zurückgewinnt

Zurückgewinnt is a German verb form meaning to regain, win back, or recover something that was lost. It is commonly used when a person or entity retrieves possession, status, or influence that had been lost previously, often through effort or negotiation. The base verb is zurückgewinnen, with zurück- functioning as a prefix that adds the sense of “back” or “again.”

Grammar and usage

Zurückgewinnen is a transitive verb. In the present tense the third-person singular form is zurückgewinnt (er/sie/es gewinnt zurück). In main clauses the prefix is typically separated: er gewinnt das Geld zurück. In the perfect tense the construction is haben + zurückgewonnen, as in Sie hat ihr Vertrauen zurückgewonnen. The verb can govern a direct object such as Geld, Vertrauen, Ansehen, Kontrolle, Freiheit oder Marktanteile. It is often used in both concrete and figurative contexts.

Etymology and related terms

The word combines zurück- (back, again) with gewinnen (to win). Related expressions include zurückbekommen (to get back, recover possession) and wiedererlangen (to regain, often with a nuance of restoration). Zurückgewinnen emphasizes the process of regaining something that was lost, rather than merely receiving it again.

Context and nuance

Zurückgewinnen implies active effort, persistence, or negotiation to restore a possession, status, or advantage. It is used in legal, financial, political, and personal contexts. While synonyms exist, zurückgewinnen often highlights the recovery of something previously held and then lost, rather than a simple return.