Gained — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb phrase

Meaning & Definition of Gained

Gained (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
  4. to come nearer to (someone or something that is ahead in a race or competition)

Gained (phrase)

  1. —used to say that it is worth trying to do something because one might succeed even though success is not certain
  2. to make progress

Gained (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to gradually increase in

    "our hopes were raised as the movement gained strength"

    similar: built up, gathered, grew (in), picked up
    related: doubled (in), tripled (in), accrued, accumulated, amassed, excited, stimulated, enhanced, enlarged, enriched, expanded, extended, maximized, boosted, elevated, jacked (up), mounted, ramped (up), stepped up
    opposite: decreased (in), lost
    near: abated, declined (in), diminished (in), dipped, dwindled, fell (in), lessened, tapered, tapered off

  2. to receive as return for effort

    "gained her affections with his boyishly shy manner"

    similar: acquired, attained, bagged, brought in, came by, captured, carried, drew, earned, garnered, got, knocked down, landed, made, obtained, procured, pulled down, realized, reaped, secured, won
    related: cleared, grossed, netted, accomplished, achieved, notched (up), scored, accumulated, amassed, racked up, caught, picked up, annexed, occupied, took over, reacquired, reattained, recaptured, regained, remade
    opposite: forfeited, lost
    near: accorded, gave, granted, paid, gave up, handed over, parted (with), relinquished, surrendered, yielded

  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: came back, convalesced, healed, mended, pulled round (chiefly British), rallied, recouped, recovered, recuperated, snapped back
    related: came around, came round, came to, improved, picked up, revived, cheered (up), perked (up), pulled through, survived, recruited
    near: ailed, came down, collapsed, sickened, declined, degenerated, deteriorated, faded, failed, languished, sank, wasted (away), weakened, wilted, withered, worsened, regressed, relapsed

  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: accelerated, accumulated, appreciated, ballooned, boomed, built up, burgeoned, climbed, enlarged, escalated, expanded, increased, mounted, multiplied, mushroomed, proliferated, rolled up, rose, snowballed, spread, swelled, waxed
    related: jumped, rocketed, skyrocketed, surged, heightened, intensified, redoubled, blew up, bulked, distended, inflated, puffed (up), crescendoed, crested, peaked
    opposite: contracted, decreased, diminished, dwindled, lessened, receded, waned

  5. to obtain (as a goal) through effort

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

    similar: achieved, attained, bagged, chalked up, clocked (up) (chiefly British), hit, logged, made, notched (up), racked up, rang up, scored, won
    related: acquired, captured, carried, drew, garnered, got, landed, obtained, procured, realized, secured, amounted (to), approached, equaled, matched, measured up (to), met, rivaled, tied, touched, beat, excelled, outdid, surpassed, topped
    near: fell short (of), missed, failed (at), lost

  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: argued, brought, brought around, converted, convinced, got, induced, moved, persuaded, prevailed (on or upon), satisfied, talked (into), won (over)
    related: blandished, blarneyed, cajoled, coaxed, entreated, exhorted, fast-talked, urged, wheedled, allured, beguiled, led on, lured, seduced, snowed, tempted, brainwashed, overpersuaded, inclined, influenced, prompted, sold, swayed, attracted, drew, enticed, interested, chewed over, conversed, debated, discussed, disputed, hashed (over), mooted, reasoned (with)
    near: deterred, discouraged, dissuaded, unsold

Related Entry: Gain (verb)

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

  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

Related Entry: Gained ground (phrase)

Gained ground is a different word from Gained. The synonyms below are for gained ground, not for gained.

  1. to move forward along a course

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

    similar: advanced, came, came along, did, fared, forged, got along, got on, marched, paced, proceeded, progressed, went, went along, went off
    related: accelerated, fast-forwarded, sped, approached, neared, journeyed, passed, ran, repaired, traveled, wended, actuated, drove, impelled, propelled, pushed, took out
    opposite: remained, stayed, stood, stopped
    near: arrested, balked, blocked, checked, detained, halted, held back, hindered, impeded, nipped, obstructed, slowed (down or up), stemmed, repressed, retarded, stunted, suppressed, delayed, interrupted, stalled, cramped, hampered, inhibited, ceased, let up, paused, regressed, waited

Related Entry: Gain ground (phrase)

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

  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 Gained

The most common words with a similar meaning to Gained:

Chiefly British: pulled round, clocked (up)
built up, gathered, grew (in), picked up, acquired, attained, bagged, brought in, came by, captured, carried, drew, earned, garnered, got, knocked down, landed, made, obtained, procured, pulled down, realized, reaped, secured, won, came back, convalesced, healed, mended, rallied, recouped, recovered, recuperated, snapped back, accelerated, accumulated, appreciated, ballooned, boomed, burgeoned

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Gained

Words with the opposite meaning of Gained:

decreased (in), lost, forfeited, contracted, decreased, diminished, dwindled, lessened, receded, waned

Related Words for Gained

doubled (in), tripled (in), accrued, amassed, excited, stimulated, enhanced, enriched, extended, maximized, boosted, elevated, jacked (up), ramped (up), stepped up, cleared, grossed, netted, accomplished, caught, annexed, occupied, took over, reacquired, reattained, recaptured, regained, remade, came around, came round

Near Antonyms of Gained

abated, declined (in), diminished (in), dipped, fell (in), tapered, tapered off, accorded, gave, granted, paid, gave up, handed over, parted (with), relinquished, surrendered, yielded, ailed, came down, collapsed, sickened, declined, degenerated, deteriorated, faded, failed, languished, sank, wasted (away), weakened

Word Forms of Gained

Inflections: gaining, gains, gained on, gaining on, gains on

Derived words: gainer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Gained

Middle English gaynen "to prevail against," borrowed from Anglo-French gaainer, gaaigner "to cultivate, till, secure (profit, advantage), capture, acquire, be victorious," probably going back to an Old Low Franconian verbal derivative from continental West Germanic *waiđ- "grassland, pasture" (whence Old High German weida "pasture," Old Saxon weiđa), of uncertain origin

First known use: 14th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Gained

nothing ventured, nothing gained

Frequently Asked Questions about Gained

What does "Gained" mean?

"Gained" means to acquire or get possession of usually by industry, merit, or craft. As an a verb and a phrase, it is defined as: to acquire or get possession of usually by industry, merit, or craft. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Gained"?

Other words for "Gained" include built up, gathered, grew (in), picked up, acquired, attained, bagged and brought in. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Gained" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Gained"?

There are 178 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Gained". Common alternatives include built up, gathered, grew (in), picked up, acquired, attained, bagged, brought in, came by and captured.

What is the opposite of "Gained"?

Antonyms of "Gained" include decreased (in), lost, forfeited, contracted, decreased, diminished, dwindled and lessened. Near antonyms include abated, declined (in), diminished (in) and dipped.

How do you use "Gained" in a sentence?

Examples of "Gained" 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 "Gained" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Gained" can be used as a verb and a phrase, depending on the context.

What is the origin of the word "Gained"?

"Gained" comes from Middle English gaynen "to prevail against," borrowed from Anglo-French gaainer, gaaigner "to cultivate, till, secure (profit, advantage), capture, acquire, be victorious," probably going back to an Old Low Franconian verbal derivative from continental West Germanic *waiđ- "grassland, pasture" (whence Old High German weida "pasture," Old Saxon weiđa), of uncertain origin. First known use: 14th centuryt.

What is another word for "Gained" meaning "to gradually increase in"?

When "Gained" (verb) means to gradually increase in, synonyms include built up, gathered, grew (in) and picked up. Opposites in this sense include decreased (in) and lost.