gain

¹

[geyn]

verb (used with object)

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

   to gain possession of an object;

   to gain permission to enter a country.

   Synonyms: procure
   Antonyms: dissuade, deter, forfeit, lose

2. to acquire as an increase or addition.

   to gain weight;

   to gain speed.

3. to obtain as a profit.

   He gained ten dollars by this deal.

4. to win; get in competition.

   to gain the prize.

5. to win (someone) to one's own side or point of view; persuade (sometimes followed byover ).

   to gain supporters.

6. (of a watch or clock) to run fast by (a specified amount).

   My watch gains six minutes a day.

7. to reach, especially by effort; get to; arrive at.

   to gain one's destination.

   Synonyms: attain

verb (used without object)

1. to improve; make progress; advance.

   to gain in health after an illness.

2. to get nearer, as in pursuit (usually followed by on orupon ).

   Our horse was gaining on the favorite at the far turn.

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

4. (of a watch or clock) to run fast.

noun

1. profit or advantage.

2. an increase or advance.

   Synonyms: acquisition, increment, increase, advance, addition

3. gains, profits or winnings.

4. the act of gaining; acquisition.

5. Electronics.

   1. a measure of the increase in signal amplitude produced by an amplifier, expressed as the ratio of output to input.

   2. the effectiveness of a directional antenna as compared with a standard, nondirectional one.

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

gain

²

[geyn]

noun

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

2. tusk.

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

verb (used with object)

1. to make a gain or gains in.

2. to fasten or support by means of a gain.

gain

¹

/ ɡeɪn /

verb

1. (tr) to acquire (something desirable); obtain

2. (tr) to win in competition

   to gain the victory

3. to increase, improve, or advance

   the car gained speed

   the shares gained in value

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

5. (intr; usually foll by on or upon)

   1. to get nearer (to) or catch up (on)

   2. to get farther away (from)

6. (tr) (esp of ships) to get to; reach

   the steamer gained port

7. (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 amount

   this watch gains

   it gains ten minutes a day

8. to make progress or obtain an advantage

9. 1. to obtain extra time by a delay or postponement

   2. (of a timepiece) to operate too fast

noun

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

2. an increase in size, amount, etc

3. the act of gaining; attainment; acquisition

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

gain

²

/ ɡeɪn /

noun

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

verb

1. (tr) to cut a gain or gains in

GAIN

³

/ ɡeɪn /

acronym

1. Guaranteed Annual Income

Other Word Forms

• gainable adjective
• ungainable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gain¹

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

Origin of gain²

First recorded in 1670–80; of unknown origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of gain¹

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

Origin of gain²

C17: of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

2. gain ground, to progress or advance, as in value, strength, or achievement.

   The company's new products are gaining ground in suburban areas.

More idioms and phrases containing gain

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

When he scored a coveted spot as a cartoonist for The Denver Post, Oliphant gained a taste for the anti-establishment, and soon after, his cartoons were syndicated internationally, gaining him renown the world over.

From Salon

Manufacturing and construction firms also reported payroll declines, offsetting gains in health care.

From BBC

On leaving, she failed to gain a place at the Royal Academy of Music, and instead went to Miss Hubler's Finishing School in Oxford.

From BBC

This covered her personal position in relation to council tax, stamp duty land tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax.

From BBC

But after having her first child at 16, Rayner studied part-time at college, learning British sign language and gaining a vocational qualification in social care.

From BBC

Related Words

• achieve 
• advance 
• attain 
• benefit 
• boost 
• build up 
• collect 
• earn 
• expand 
• get 
• grow 
• have 
• improve 
• increase 
• make 
• obtain 
• pick up 
• produce 
• promote 
• reach