to recapture
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to recapture
To regain possession of an area, city, or position that had been lost through fighting or military effort.
Die Armee konnte die strategisch wichtige Stadt nach wochenlangen Kämpfen zurückerobern.
The army was able to recapture the strategically important city after weeks of fighting.
to regain
To regain something abstract, such as trust, affection, a market share, or a leading position, that had been lost through effort.
Mit der neuen Produktlinie will das Unternehmen seine Marktführerschaft zurückerobern.
With the new product line, the company wants to regain its market leadership.
to win back
In sports, to bring the ball back into one's own team's possession after the opponent had it.
Der Mittelfeldspieler konnte den Ball im Zweikampf sofort zurückerobern.
The midfielder was able to win back the ball immediately in the challenge.
'Zurückerobern' (to recapture/regain) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zurück-' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Die Mannschaft eroberte den Ball schnell zurück.
The team quickly won the ball back.
The object of the verb indicates the meaning. With military objects such as 'Stadt' (city) or 'Gebiet' (area/territory), the literal meaning is intended. With abstract objects such as 'Vertrauen' (trust) or 'Marktanteil' (market share), the figurative meaning is intended. In sports, the object is usually 'der Ball' (the ball).
Die Rebellen wollten die Hauptstadt zurückerobern.
The rebels wanted to recapture the capital.
The verb 'zurückerobern' (to recapture/regain) is transitive and always requires an accusative object. So you always have to say what is being recaptured or regained.
Nach der Pause eroberte die Heimmannschaft die Kontrolle über das Spiel zurück.
After the break, the home team won back control of the game.
In the figurative meaning, the verb is often used with abstract nouns. Typical combinations are 'das Vertrauen zurückerobern' (to regain trust), 'die Herzen der Wähler zurückerobern' (to win back the voters' hearts), or 'seine Position zurückerobern' (to regain one's position).
Der Politiker versucht, das Vertrauen der Bürger zurückzuerobern.
The politician is trying to regain the citizens' trust.
to conquer
In sports, erobern and zurückerobern can both refer to winning the ball. Zurückerobern explicitly makes clear that one's own team had lost the ball beforehand; erobern describes only the successful gain of possession. When the previous possession matters, zurückerobern is the better choice.
Direkt nach ihrem Fehlpass erobert Lea den Ball für ihr Team zurück.
Immediately after her misplaced pass, Lea wins the ball back for her team.
Mit einem mutigen Zweikampf erobert Lea den Ball für ihr Team.
Lea wins the ball for her team with a courageous challenge.
