gain

GAYN/ɡeɪn/

Noun pluralgains

22 meanings of gain

1
getverbtransitive
To get something and make it yours.
Like picking up a coin and putting it in your pocket so it's yours.
Families moved west hoping to gain land of their own.
Our team needs to gain possession of the ball quickly.
UsageOften gain control of, gain access to or gain experience. For money from a job, say earn.
Similaracquire, obtain, get, secure
Oppositelose, forfeit
Note
2
amount addednouncountable or uncountable
A rise in how much, how big, how heavy, or how valuable something is.
The doctor said the baby's weight gain this month was normal.
The town saw a small gain in the number of people living there.
UsageSay a gain in something and a gain of an amount: a gain of two pounds.
Similarincrease, rise, growth, accumulation
Oppositeloss, decrease, decline, drop
3
verbtransitive or intransitive
To get more of something, such as speed, height or body weight.
Like a ball rolling downhill faster and faster.
The plane began to gain height after takeoff.
The car gained speed going down the hill.
UsageSay gain weight or gain speed. For a quality, you can say gain confidence or gain in confidence.
Note
4
verbintransitive
To benefit or make progress, such as by getting richer, healthier, or happier.
Like a snowball that grows bigger as it rolls down a hill.
Both sides gain when they work together honestly.
Small shops gain when more people buy close to home.
UsageOften gain from something. Stand to gain means you could get something good.
Similarbenefit, profit, improve
Oppositelose, suffer
5
nouncountable or uncountable
The things you get or win.
Like the basket of fruit you bring home after picking all afternoon.
In the end, the robbers' only gain was a broken old watch.
She shared her gains from the card game with her friends.
UsageOften for personal gain. Ill-gotten gains means money or property got in a dishonest way.
Similarprofit, return, earnings, proceeds, benefit
Oppositeloss
6
verbtransitive or intransitive
Of a price, a share, or a kind of money: to go up in value.
Gold gained ten dollars an ounce today.
Many experts think the euro will gain against the dollar this year.
UsagePut the amount right after it: gold gained ten dollars. For money, say gain against: the euro gained against the dollar.
Similarrise, climb, advance, increase, appreciate
Oppositefall, drop, lose, decline
7
win oververbtransitive
To win someone over to your side.
Like making a new friend who decides to join your team.
The small country worked hard to gain allies before the war.
Their simple message gained many supporters in small towns.
Similarwin, sway, persuade, convert
Oppositealienate
Note
8
signal boostnouncountable or uncountable
How much a device makes a signal stronger or weaker.
Like a volume knob that makes a quiet sound much louder.
Turn up the gain to make the microphone louder.
Too much gain made the speaker screech with feedback.
Similaramplification
Oppositeattenuation, loss
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–12

It comes from an Old Norse word meaning "benefit" or "advantage," and was later strengthened by a Middle French word for profit or earning.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Gain derives from an Old Norse word meaning benefit or advantage. en.wiktionary.org
The reinforcing word was Middle French gain, which descended from Old French. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 16

It comes from a dialectal English word gen or gin, a short form of "again" meaning "against."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Gain derives from dialectal English gen or gin, a shortened form of again meaning ‘against’. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 13–15

It comes from an Old Norse word meaning "straight, direct, or ready."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Gain derives from an Old Norse word meaning straight, direct, or ready. en.wiktionary.org

gain

22 meanings of gain

Less common meanings

Practice

Origins