<?php $re = '~(?<!\+)\+\+(\w+)\+\+(?!\+)~'; $str = "I have ++VAR++ and +++++++++++ and +++text+++++ and ++ANOTHER_VAR++.";
Standard input is empty
Array ( [0] => Array ( [0] => ++VAR++ [1] => ++ANOTHER_VAR++ ) [1] => Array ( [0] => VAR [1] => ANOTHER_VAR ) )