import java.util.regex.*; public class FooTest { public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception { Pattern p = Pattern.compile("^(\\s*foo\\s*)*$"); Matcher m = p.matcher("foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo foo fo"); if (m.find()) System.out.println("Matched"); else System.out.println("Didn't match"); } }