51Թ

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View synonyms for

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:
    Antonyms: , , ,
  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:


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: , , , ,
  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

/ ɡɪ /

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

    1. to obtain extra time by a delay or postponement

    2. (of a timepiece) to operate too fast

“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

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

“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

gain

2

/ ɡɪ /

noun

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

“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

verb

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

“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

GAIN

3

/ ɡɪ /

acronym

  1. 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
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • gainable adjective
  • ungainable adjective
  • ˈԲ adjective
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51Թ 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
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51Թ 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
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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.

In addition to the idiom beginning with gain, also see ill-gotten gains; no pain, no gain; nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

American designers, including those who fashioned costumes such as Marilyn Monroe’s iconic white dress from “The Seven Year Itch,” gained prominence.

From

Although he has gained popularity among some Iranians, it's not clear whether that could quickly transform into a force for regime change.

From

The former reality star appeared on ITV shows such as The Only Way is Essex in 2017 and Love Island in 2018, where she entered the villa as a bombshell and gained nationwide fame.

From

He took the data home because he wanted to "continue and complete the most exciting and challenging work the defendant had ever undertaken" in the hope of gaining future employment at GCHQ, Ms Grahame said.

From

The Gatwick flight took off as scheduled on Thursday afternoon, but appeared to struggle to gain altitude and crashed about 30 seconds into the flight.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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