Definition of GAIN

gain

Plural: gains

Noun

  • a quantity that is added
    • "they recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks"
  • the advantageous quality of being beneficial
  • the amount of increase in signal power or voltage or current expressed as the ratio of output to input
  • the amount by which the revenue of a business exceeds its cost of operating
  • The act of gaining; acquisition.
  • The thing or things gained.
  • The factor by which a signal is multiplied.
  • 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.

Verb

Verb Forms: gained, gaining, gains

  • To obtain or acquire something desirable; to achieve an increase.
  • obtain
  • win something through one's efforts
    • "Gain an understanding of international finance"
  • derive a benefit from
  • reach a destination, either real or abstract
  • obtain advantages, such as points, etc.
    • "The home team was gaining ground"
  • rise in rate or price
    • "The stock market gained 24 points today"
  • increase or develop
    • "the peace movement gained momentum"
  • earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
  • increase (one's body weight)
    • "She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising"
  • To acquire possession of.
  • To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.
  • To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.
  • To increase.
  • To grow more likely to catch or overtake someone.
  • To reach.
  • To draw into any interest or party; to win to one’s side; to conciliate.
  • To put on weight.
  • To run fast.

Prep

  • Against.

Adj

  • Straight, direct; near; short.
  • Suitable; convenient; ready.
  • Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.
  • Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap.

Adv

  • Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.
  • Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.
  • Tolerably; fairly.

Examples

  • gain quiet
  • He managed to gain a significant lead by expertly using his power tiles.
  • I’m gaining (on you).
  • I’ve been gaining.
  • Looks like you’ve gained a new friend.
  • the gainest way
  • The sick man gains daily.
  • to gain a battle; to gain a case at law
  • to gain ground
  • to gain the top of a mountain

Origin / Etymology

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”).
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”).
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.

Synonyms

acquire, addition, advance, amplification, arrive at, attain, benefit, bring in, clear, derive, earn, gain ground, gather, get ahead, hit, increase, make, make headway, profit, pull ahead, pull in, put on, reach, realise, realize, take in, win

Antonyms

fall back, lose, loss, reduce

Scrabble Score: 5

gain: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
gain: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gain: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

gain: valid Words With Friends Word