gain Meaning & Definition
What Does Gain Mean?
Gain is used as a verb meaning To acquire possession of. It can also mean To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress. As a noun, it means The act of gaining; acquisition. As a preposition, it means Against.
Gain at a Glance
| Part of speech | verb, noun, preposition, adjective, adverb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ɡeɪn/ |
| Synonyms | advance, clear and attain |
| Antonyms | reduce, thin and recede |
| Plural | gains |
| Comparative / superlative | more gain, most gain |
| Verb forms | gains, gaining, gained |
Gain Definition (Verb)
- To acquire possession of.
Looks like you’ve gained a new friend.
- To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.
The sick man gains daily.
- To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.
to gain a battle; to gain a case at law
- To increase.
- To grow more likely to catch or overtake someone.
to gain ground
- To reach.
to gain the top of a mountain
- To draw into any interest or party; to win to one’s side; to conciliate.
- To put on weight.
I’ve been gaining.
- To run fast, often by a specified amount.
Don't rely on that clock: it gains.
Gain as a Noun
- The act of gaining; acquisition.
People are more willing to take a risk to avoid a loss than to make a gain.
- The thing or things gained.
- The factor by which a signal is multiplied.
Gain as a Preposition
- Against.
Gain as an Adjective
- Straight, direct; near; short.
the gainest way
- Suitable; convenient; ready.
- Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.
- Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap.
Gain as an Adverb
- Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.
- Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.
- Tolerably; fairly.
gain quiet
Noun
- A square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.
Noun
- What is gained.
Verb
- To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual.
I'm gaining (on you).
- (of a clock or watch) To run fast.
Synonyms of Gain
Antonyms of Gain
Gain in a Sentence
Looks like you’ve gained a new friend.
The sick man gains daily.
to gain a battle; to gain a case at law
to gain ground
I’m gaining (on you).
to gain the top of a mountain
I’ve been gaining.
Don't rely on that clock: it gains.
People are more willing to take a risk to avoid a loss than to make a gain.
the gainest way
gain quiet
Looks like you've gained a new friend.
I'm gaining (on you).
I've been gaining.
gain quiet (= fairly/pretty quiet)
Word Forms & Grammar
gain (third-person singular simple present gains, present participle gaining, simple past and past participle gained)
gain (countable and uncountable, plural gains)
gain
gain (comparative more gain, superlative most gain)
gain (plural gains)
Words That Rhyme With Gain
Origin of Gain
Origin 1: From Middle English gayn, gain, gein (“profit, advantage”), from Old Norse gagn (“benefit, advantage, use”), from Proto-Germanic *gagną, *gaganą (“gain, profit", literally "return”), from Proto-Germanic *gagana (“back, against, in return”), a reduplication of Proto-Germanic *ga- (“with, together”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“next to, at, with, along”).
Origin 2: Cognate with Icelandic gagn (“gain, advantage, use”), Swedish gagn (“benefit, profit”), Danish gavn (“gain, profit, success”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌴𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (gageigan, “to gain, profit”), Old Norse gegn (“ready”), dialectal Swedish gen (“useful, noteful”), Latin cum (“with”); see gain-, again, against. Compare also Middle English gaynen, geinen (“to be of use, profit, avail”), Icelandic and Swedish gagna (“to avail, help”), Danish gavne (“to benefit”).
Origin 3: The Middle English word was reinforced by Middle French gain (“gain, profit, advancement, cultivation”), from Old French gaaing, gaaigne, gaigne, a noun derivative of gaaignier, gaigner (“to till, earn, win”), from Frankish *waiþanōn (“to pasture, graze, hunt for food”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *waiþiz, *waiþō, *waiþijō (“pasture, field, hunting ground”); compare Old High German weidōn, weidanōn (“to hunt, forage for food”) (Modern German Weide (“pasture”)), Old Norse veiða (“to catch, hunt”), Old English wǣþan (“to hunt, chase, pursue”). Related to wide.
Origin 4: From dialectal English gen, gin, short for again, agen (“against”); also Middle English gain, gayn, gein, ȝæn (“against”), from Old English gēan, geġn (“against”). More at against.
Common Questions About Gain
Is gain a verb or a noun?
Gain is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun, a preposition, an adjective and an adverb.
What is another word for gain?
You can replace gain with words such as advance, clear and attain. See the full list of gain synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of gain?
The plural of gain is gains.
What is the past tense of gain?
The past tense of gain is gained. The present participle is gaining.