gaining back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gaining back" is not standard in written English; the correct form is "gaining back" or "regaining." You can use it when referring to the process of recovering something that was lost, such as health, weight, or a position.
Example: "After months of hard work, I am finally gaining back my strength after the injury."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Now I think we're gaining back a lot of the jobs we might have lost.

The New York Times

His daughter Liz Cheney said Mr. Cheney, 69, was gaining back his strength.

The New York Times

The G.O.P. sees the coming redistricting as a way of gaining back ground the party lost in the last round.

The New York Times

"Consumers are still frugal, but because national brands have stepped up their game, they're gaining back some share they lost to private label".

The New York Times

Dynegy rose $3.50, or 10.6percentto to $36.50, gaining back all of the ground lost on Wednesday after news of the deal leaked.

The New York Times

And Sun Microsystems rose $6.31, to $123.94, gaining back nearly all of its loss from Wednesday, when investors bid the stock down from $124.75 to less than $118.

The New York Times

If he would just be honest for once, he might have a shot at gaining back some credibility at home and abroad.

The New York Times

After several quarters of losing market share to its smaller rival A.M.D., Intel appears to be gaining back much of the share it lost.

The New York Times - Tech

Cody Acree, an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus, called Intel's quarter "encouraging," and said it appeared Intel was gaining back lost market share in virtually all categories.

The New York Times - Tech

The people who tried to maintain their weight on their own fared the worst, gaining back an average of 12.1 pounds.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

In reality the best Martin O'Neill and David Moyes can hope for is to finish fourth one season, thereby gaining back-door Champions League entrance.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In financial contexts, pairing "gaining back" with specific assets (e.g., market share, investment value) adds clarity and impact.

Common error

While "gaining back" is widely understood, it can sometimes sound less polished in formal writing. In such cases, opting for more formal alternatives like "regaining" or "recovering" may enhance the tone and credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gaining back" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a phrasal verb. It signifies the act of recovering or retrieving something that was previously lost or diminished. Ludwig AI indicates it is commonly used, but can be replaced with more formal terms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gaining back" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe the process of recovering something lost, whether it's physical strength, financial assets, or abstract qualities like trust. While Ludwig AI considers it acceptable, it is important to note that more formal alternatives like "regaining" or "recovering" might be more appropriate in certain contexts, particularly academic or professional writing. Its frequency is high across various sources, especially in news and media, indicating its common usage in describing restorative processes. Remember to tailor your choice of words to suit the specific tone and formality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regaining

Implies a more complete and possibly more effortful recovery of something lost.

recovering

Focuses on the process of returning to a normal state after a loss or difficulty.

recouping

Specifically suggests recovering a financial loss or investment.

restoring

Emphasizes returning something to its original condition.

reclaiming

Implies asserting a right to something and taking it back.

winning back

Suggests regaining something through effort or competition.

earning back

Highlights that the recovery is due to effort or merit.

getting back

A more informal way of saying gaining back.

retrieving

Focuses on the act of finding and bringing something back.

reacquiring

Highlights the act of obtaining something again, often after a formal process.

FAQs

How can I use "gaining back" in a sentence?

You can use "gaining back" to describe the process of recovering something that was lost, such as "gaining back strength after an illness" or "gaining back market share after a setback".

What can I say instead of "gaining back"?

Alternatives to "gaining back" include "regaining", "recovering", or "recouping", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "gaining back" versus "regaining"?

"Gaining back" is generally suitable for informal contexts, while "regaining" may be preferred in more formal or professional settings due to its slightly more sophisticated tone.

Is there a difference between "gaining back" and "winning back"?

Yes, "gaining back" implies a return to a previous state or possession, while "winning back" suggests effort and competition were involved in recovering something, such as "winning back the trust of customers".