gain

UK: /ˈgeɪn/ US: /geɪn/ ,(gān)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

gain¹ /geɪn/   v. 

1. to get (something desired), esp. as a result of one's efforts;
   secure:
   [~ + object] to gain possession of land.
2. to acquire or get as an increase or addition:
   [~ + object] The car gained speed.
3. to improve;
   advance:
   [no object] She's finally begun to gain in health.
4. to obtain as a profit or advantage:
   [~ + object] He didn't stand to gain much by the deal.
5. to win (someone) to one's own side or point of view:
   [~ + object] The candidate began to gain supporters.
6. (of a watch or clock) to run fast by (a specified amount): [~ + object]
   My watch gains six minutes a day.
   [no object]
   Her watch gains.
7. to get to;
   arrive at:
   [~ + object] to gain one's destination.
8. gain on/upon, [~ + object] to get nearer:
   The police were gaining on the criminals.

n. 

9. profit or advantage:
   [uncountable] I see no gain in this plan.
10. an increase:
    [countable] showed a small gain in weight.
11. gains, [plural] profits or winnings.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

gain¹  (gān), v.t. 

1. to get (something desired), esp. as a result of one's efforts:
   to gain possession of an object; to gain permission to enter a country.
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 fol. by over):
   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, esp. by effort;
   get to;
   arrive at:
   to gain one's destination.

v.i. 

8. to improve;
   make progress;
   advance:
   to gain in health after an illness.
9. to get nearer, as in pursuit (usually fol. by on or upon):
   Our horse was gaining on the favorite at the far turn.
10. to draw away from or farther ahead of the other contestants in a race, one's pursuers, etc. (usually fol. by on or upon).
11. (of a watch or clock) to run fast.
12. Idioms gain ground, to progress or advance, as in value, strength, or achievement:
    The company's new products are gaining ground in suburban areas.
13. Idioms gain time, to arrange a postponement or delay for a particular purpose, esp. by roundabout means.

n. 

14. profit or advantage.
15. an increase or advance.
16. gains, profits or winnings.
17. the act of gaining;
    acquisition.
18. Electronics
    • a measure of the increase in signal amplitude produced by an amplifier, expressed as the ratio of output to input.
    • the effectiveness of a directional antenna as compared with a standard, nondirectional one.
19. the volume control of a radio, phonograph, amplifier, etc.

• Gmc; compare Old High German weidanōn to hunt, forage for food
• Middle French, contraction of Old French gaaing, noun, nominal deriv of gaaignier to till, earn, win
• late Middle English (noun, nominal) 1425–75

gain′a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. procure.
  Gain, attain, earn, win imply obtaining a reward or something advantageous.
  Gain carries the least suggestion of method or of effort expended.
  Attain emphasizes the reaching of a goal.
  Earn emphasizes the exertions and labor expended that deserve reward.
  Win emphasizes attainment in spite of competition or opposition.
• 7. attain.
• 15. addition, increment, acquisition.

Antonyms

• 1. lose.

gain²  (gān), [Carpentry.]
n. 

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. Building tusk (def. 4).
3. a short rabbet, for receiving a flap of a butt hinge.

v.t. 

4. to make a gain or gains in.
5. to fasten or support by means of a gain.

• perh. akin to obsolete gane, Old English (north) ganian to yawn, open 1670–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gain / ɡeɪn/ verb

1. (transitive) to acquire (something desirable); obtain
2. (transitive) to win in competition: to gain the victory
3. to increase, improve, or advance: the car gained speed, the shares gained in value
4. (transitive) to earn (a wage, living, etc)
5. (intr; usually followed by on or upon) to get nearer (to) or catch up (on)
6. to get farther away (from)
7. (transitive) (esp of ships) to get to; reach: the steamer gained port
8. (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
9. gain ground ⇒ to make progress or obtain an advantage
10. gain time ⇒ to obtain extra time by a delay or postponement
11. (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 the ratio of the output signal of an amplifier to the input signal, usually measured in decibels

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French gaaignier, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German weidenen to forage, hunt