gain

[ geyn ]

/ geɪn /

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See synonyms for: gain / gained / gaining / gains on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to get (something desired), especially as a result of one's efforts: to gain possession of an object;to gain permission to enter a country.

to acquire as an increase or addition: to gain weight;to gain speed.

to obtain as a profit: He gained ten dollars by this deal.

to win; get in competition: to gain the prize.

to win (someone) to one's own side or point of view; persuade (sometimes followed by over): to gain supporters.

(of a watch or clock) to run fast by (a specified amount): My watch gains six minutes a day.

to reach, especially by effort; get to; arrive at: to gain one's destination.

verb (used without object)

to improve; make progress; advance: to gain in health after an illness.

to get nearer, as in pursuit (usually followed by on or upon): Our horse was gaining on the favorite at the far turn.

to draw away from or farther ahead of the other contestants in a race, one's pursuers, etc. (usually followed by on or upon).

(of a watch or clock) to run fast.

noun

profit or advantage.

an increase or advance.

gains, profits or winnings.

the act of gaining; acquisition.

Electronics.

a measure of the increase in signal amplitude produced by an amplifier, expressed as the ratio of output to input.
the effectiveness of a directional antenna as compared with a standard, nondirectional one.

the volume control of a radio, phonograph, amplifier, etc.

OTHER WORDS FOR gain

1 procure.

7 attain.

13 addition, advance, increase, increment, acquisition.

See synonyms for gain on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR gain

2 lose.

4 forfeit.

5 deter, dissuade.

See antonyms for gain on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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Idioms about gain

gain ground, to progress or advance, as in value, strength, or achievement: The company's new products are gaining ground in suburban areas.

gain time, to arrange a postponement or delay for a particular purpose, especially by roundabout means.

Origin of gain

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English noun, from Middle French gain, contraction of Old French gaaing, noun derivative of ga(a)ignier “to till, earn, win,” from Germanic

synonym study for gain

1. Gain, attain, earn, win imply obtaining a reward or something advantageous. Gain carries the least suggestion of method or of effort expended: After battling the blizzard, we finally gained our destination. Attain emphasizes the reaching of a goal: to attain stardom. Earn emphasizes the exertions and labor expended that deserve reward: to earn a promotion. Win emphasizes attainment in spite of competition or opposition: to win support in a campaign.

OTHER WORDS FROM gain

gain·a·ble, adjectiveun·gain·a·ble, adjective

Other definitions for gain (2 of 2)

gain²

[ geyn ]

/ geɪn /

Carpentry.

noun

a notch, dado, or mortise cut into a piece of wood, as to receive another piece or to house a flap of a hinge.

tusk (def. 4).

a short rabbet, for receiving a flap of a butt hinge.

verb (used with object)

to make a gain or gains in.

to fasten or support by means of a gain.

Origin of gain

First recorded in 1670–80; of unknown origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use gain in a sentence

Rather, as it’s done many times over the years, the chip industry will get creative with the design of its core product to realize gains for another decade.
Moore’s Law Lives: Intel Says Chips Will Pack 50 Times More Transistors|Jason Dorrier|August 23, 2020|Singularity Hub
Stocks were cruising to another day of gains on Wednesday when the Fed went and spoiled the party—well, spoiled it for most stocks not named Apple.
The Fed’s bearish outlook puts the global stocks rally on pause|Bernhard Warner|August 20, 2020|Fortune
The market’s huge gains have been slowing in recent weeks, and many investors say the easiest gains have been made.
S&P 500 hits a new record, erasing last of pandemic losses|Verne Kopytoff|August 18, 2020|Fortune
While crediting liberalism for leading to the gains of the modern feminist movement, LGBT rights and the civil rights movement, it suggests almost total victory was reached in those fields by the end of the 1980s.
American Fringes: The Intellectual Dark Web Declares Its Independence|Nick Fouriezos|August 11, 2020|Ozy

Whether you’re a start-up or a long-time business, your current budget influences your future financial goals and gains.
10 Reasons why marketers use data to make budgeting decisions|Kimberly Grimms|July 28, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Consumers are also gaining the ability to take the designs into their own hands as 3D printing becomes more accessible.
What, and Who, You'll Be Wearing in 2015|Justin Jones|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Later studies showed that only gaining weight and the return of natural menstruation help improve bone density.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sudan has been plagued by years of political instability, which has prevented tourism from gaining traction.
Egypt Ain’t The Only Pyramid Show In Town|Nina Strochlic|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gaining access to them can be fairly easy, which could make them more vulnerable to attack, researchers say.
How Your Pacemaker Will Get Hacked|Kaiser Health News|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A third group, Al-Hirak Al Janoubi, is gaining ground with calls for southern Yemen to secede.
Yemen’s a Model All Right—For Disaster|Michael Shank , Casey Harrity|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every day they are gaining more strength, as is seen by the presence of so many of them on this coast.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
The expression fitted best the cruder, more sordid method of gaining possession of this woman.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
The countess-dowager sat fanning herself quietly: for her daughter's words were gaining ground.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Belle Ringold was very shrewd, young as she was, in the arts of gaining and holding the attention of young men.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
She had heard in books of girls writing poetry, romance, history—gaining fifties and hundreds.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge

British Dictionary definitions for gain (1 of 3)

gain¹

/ (ɡeɪn) /

verb

(tr) to acquire (something desirable); obtain

(tr) to win in competitionto gain the victory

to increase, improve, or advancethe car gained speed; the shares gained in value

(tr) to earn (a wage, living, etc)

(intr; usually foll by on or upon)

to get nearer (to) or catch up (on)
to get farther away (from)

(tr) (esp of ships) to get to; reachthe steamer gained port

(of a timepiece) to operate too fast, so as to indicate a time ahead of the true time or to run fast by a specified amountthis watch gains; it gains ten minutes a day

gain ground to make progress or obtain an advantage

gain time

to obtain extra time by a delay or postponement
(of a timepiece) to operate too fast

noun

something won, acquired, earned, etc; profit; advantage

an increase in size, amount, etc

the act of gaining; attainment; acquisition

Also called: amplification electronics the ratio of the output signal of an amplifier to the input signal, usually measured in decibels

Derived forms of gain

gainable, adjective

Word Origin for gain

C15: from Old French gaaignier, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German weidenen to forage, hunt

British Dictionary definitions for gain (2 of 3)

gain²

/ (ɡeɪn) /

noun

a notch, mortise, or groove, esp one cut to take the flap of a butt hinge

verb

(tr) to cut a gain or gains in

Word Origin for gain

C17: of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for gain (3 of 3)

GAIN

/ (ɡeɪn) /

n acronym for (in Canada)

Guaranteed Annual Income

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for gain

gain

[ gān ]

An increase in amount or degree.

Progress; advancement.

Other Idioms and Phrases with gain

gain

In addition to the idiom beginning with gain

gain ground

also see:

ill-gotten gains
no pain, no gain
nothing ventured, nothing gained

gain

OTHER WORDS FOR gain

OPPOSITES FOR gain

Idioms about gain

Origin of gain

synonym study for gain

OTHER WORDS FROM gain

Other definitions for gain (2 of 2)

Origin of gain

Words related to gain

How to use gain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gain (1 of 3)

Derived forms of gain

Word Origin for gain

British Dictionary definitions for gain (2 of 3)

Word Origin for gain

British Dictionary definitions for gain (3 of 3)

Medical definitions for gain

Other Idioms and Phrases with gain