What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
regained
Example
After months of hard work, she regained her confidence. [regained: past tense]
Example
He regained his strength after a long period of illness. [regained: past participle]
recover
Example
He is recovering from surgery and will be back to work soon. [recovering: present participle]
Example
The police were able to recover the stolen goods. [recover: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recover is more commonly used than regained in everyday language, especially in the context of health and wellness. Regained is less common and tends to be used in more informal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between regained and recover?
Recover is more formal than regained, and it is commonly used in medical and legal contexts. Regained is more informal and is often used in everyday conversation.
