What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recover
Example
It took her a few weeks to recover from the flu. [recover: verb]
Example
The police were able to recover the stolen jewelry. [recover: verb]
Example
The workers fought to recover their right to unionize. [recover: verb]
regain
Example
She was determined to regain her strength after the surgery. [regain: verb]
Example
The team worked hard to regain their lead in the game. [regain: verb]
Example
He had to practice every day to regain his ability to play the piano. [regain: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recover is more common in the context of health or illness, while regain is more commonly used in other contexts such as sports, business, or personal development.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recover and regain?
Recover is generally considered more formal than regain, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
