Gain — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈgān/

Meaning & Definition of Gain

Gain (noun)

  1. resources or advantage acquired or increased, profit
  2. the act or process of acquiring something
  3. an increase in amount, magnitude, or degree

Gain (verb)

  1. to acquire or get possession of usually by industry, merit, or craft
  2. to win in competition or conflict
  3. to arrive at, reach, attain

Gain (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to gradually increase in

    "our hopes were raised as the movement gained strength"

    similar: build up, gather, grow (in), pick up
    related: double (in), triple (in), accrue, accumulate, amass, excite, stimulate, enhance, enlarge, enrich, expand, extend, maximize, boost, elevate, jack (up), mount, ramp (up), step up
    opposite: decrease (in), lose
    near: abate, decline (in), diminish (in), dip, dwindle, fall (in), lessen, taper, taper off

  2. to receive as return for effort

    "gained her affections with his boyishly shy manner"

    similar: acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win
    related: clear, gross, net, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake
    opposite: forfeit, lose
    near: accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

  3. to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness

    "is steadily gaining after his bout with the flu and will be back on his feet soon"

    similar: come back, convalesce, heal, mend, pull round (chiefly British), rally, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back
    related: come around, come round, come to, improve, pick up, revive, cheer (up), perk (up), pull through, survive, recruit
    near: ail, collapse, come down, sicken, decline, degenerate, deteriorate, fade, fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen, regress, relapse

  4. to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number

    "the new version of the car gained in both width and length compared to the earlier model"

    similar: accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax
    related: jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, heighten, intensify, redouble, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up), crescendo, crest, peak
    opposite: contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

  5. to obtain (as a goal) through effort

    "vowed to gain control of the company by any means necessary"

    similar: achieve, attain, bag, chalk up, clock (up) (chiefly British), hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, win
    related: acquire, capture, carry, draw, garner, get, land, obtain, procure, realize, secure, amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to), meet, rival, tie, touch, beat, excel, outdo, surpass, top
    near: fall short (of), miss, fail (at), lose

  6. to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request

    "the radical party was able to gain some supporters with intense recruitment on college campuses"

    similar: argue, bring, bring around, convert, convince, get, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)
    related: blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle, allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt, brainwash, overpersuade, incline, influence, prompt, sell, sway, attract, draw, entice, interest, chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot, reason (with)
    near: deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell

Gain (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something added (as by growth)

    "attributed her recent weight gain to the medication she was taking"

    similar: accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, increase, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick
    related: accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, complement, accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn, jump, run-up, spike
    opposite: abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
    near: deduction, subtraction

  2. the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received

    "the company posted a substantial fourth-quarter gain, signaling an end to their money-losing ventures"

    similar: earnings, lucre, net, payoff, proceeds, profit, return
    related: cleanup, killing, windfall, bottom line, gross, sales, compensation, emolument, income, pay, payment, remittal, requital, salary, wages, interest, revenue, yield
    near: charge, cost, disbursement, expenditure, expense, loss, outgo, outlay

  3. an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property

    "net gains this year were better than last"

    similar: earnings, income, incoming(s), proceeds, profit, return, revenue, yield
    related: killing, windfall, salary, take-home pay, tips, wages, bankroll, capital, coffers, exchequer, finances, funds, money, pocket, pocketbook, resources, wherewithal
    near: charge, cost, disbursement, expenditures, expenses, outgo, outlay

Related Entry: Gain ground (phrase)

Gain ground is a different word from Gain. The synonyms below are for gain ground, not for gain.

  1. to move forward along a course

    "The winning horse quickly gained ground ahead of the others."

    similar: advance, come, come along, do, fare, forge, get along, get on, go, go along, go off, march, pace, proceed, progress
    related: accelerate, fast-forward, speed, approach, near, journey, pass, repair, run, travel, wend, actuate, drive, impel, propel, push, take out
    opposite: remain, stand, stay, stop
    near: arrest, balk, block, check, detain, halt, hinder, hold back, impede, nip, obstruct, slow (down or up), stem, repress, retard, stunt, suppress, delay, interrupt, stall, cramp, hamper, inhibit, cease, let up, pause, regress, wait

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Gain

The most common words with a similar meaning to Gain:

Chiefly British: pull round, clock (up)
build up, gather, grow (in), pick up, acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win, come back, convalesce, heal, mend, rally, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back, accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, burgeon

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Gain

Words with the opposite meaning of Gain:

decrease (in), lose, forfeit, contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane, abatement, decline, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

Related Words for Gain

double (in), triple (in), accrue, amass, excite, stimulate, enhance, enrich, extend, maximize, elevate, jack (up), ramp (up), step up, clear, gross, accomplish, catch, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake, come around, come round, come to, improve

Near Antonyms of Gain

abate, decline (in), diminish (in), dip, fall (in), taper, taper off, accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield, ail, collapse, come down, sicken, degenerate, deteriorate, fade, fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt

Word Forms of Gain

Inflections: gained, gaining, gains

Derived words: gainer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Gain

Middle English gain, borrowed from Anglo-French gain, gaigne, gaaing "tillage, winning, profit," derivative of gaainer, gaaigner "to till, secure (profit, advantage)" gain:2

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Gain

Words & Phrases Containing Gain

gain ground, gain ground on, gain on, gain the lead, gain time, gain weight, capital gain, no gain without pain

Frequently Asked Questions about Gain

What does "Gain" mean?

"Gain" means resources or advantage acquired or increased, profit. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: resources or advantage acquired or increased, profit. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Gain"?

Other words for "Gain" include build up, gather, grow (in), pick up, acquire, attain, bag and bring in. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Gain" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Gain"?

There are 241 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Gain". Common alternatives include build up, gather, grow (in), pick up, acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture and carry.

What is the opposite of "Gain"?

Antonyms of "Gain" include decrease (in), lose, forfeit, contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle and lessen. Near antonyms include abate, decline (in), diminish (in) and dip.

How do you use "Gain" in a sentence?

Examples of "Gain" in a sentence: "our hopes were raised as the movement gained strength"; "gained her affections with his boyishly shy manner"; "is steadily gaining after his bout with the flu and will be back on his feet soon".

Is "Gain" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Gain" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Gain" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Gain" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Gain"?

"Gain" is pronounced /ˈgān/.