What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
regress
Example
The patient's condition began to regress after the surgery. [regress: verb]
Example
The company's profits have regressed over the past year. [regressed: past tense]
retrogress
Example
The country's economy has retrogressed since the new government took over. [retrogress: verb]
Example
The team's performance has retrogressed from last season. [retrogressed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Regress is more commonly used than retrogress in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between regress and retrogress?
Regress is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while retrogress has a more formal or technical connotation.
