gain

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: additionincreaseprofitamplificationderiveacquirewinbenefitreachmakeattainhit

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. a quantity that is added“there was an addition to property taxes this year”“they recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks”Synonyms: additionincrease
  2. the advantageous quality of being beneficialSynonyms: profit
  3. the amount of increase in signal power or voltage or current expressed as the ratio of output to inputSynonyms: amplification
  4. the amount by which the revenue of a business exceeds its cost of operating

Verb (9)

  1. obtain“derive pleasure from one's garden”Synonyms: derive
  2. win something through one's efforts“I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese”“Gain an understanding of international finance”Synonyms: acquirewin
  3. derive a benefit from“She profited from his vast experience”Synonyms: profitbenefit
  4. reach a destination, either real or abstract“We hit Detroit by noon”“The water reached the doorstep”“We barely made it to the finish line”“I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts”Synonyms: reachmakeattainhitarrive at
  5. obtain advantages, such as points, etc.“The home team was gaining ground”“After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference”Synonyms: advancewinpull aheadmake headwayget aheadgain ground
  6. rise in rate or price“The stock market gained 24 points today”Synonyms: advance
  7. increase or develop“the peace movement gained momentum”“the car gathers speed”Synonyms: gather
  8. earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages“How much do you make a month in your new job?”“She earns a lot in her new job”“this merger brought in lots of money”“He clears $5,000 each month”Synonyms: take inclearmakeearnrealizerealisepull inbring in
  9. increase (one's body weight)“She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising”Synonyms: put on
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Gain \Gain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gained (g[=a]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Gaining.] [From gain, n. but. prob. influenced by F. gagner to earn, gain, OF. gaaignier to cultivate, OHG. weidin[=o]n, weidinen to pasture, hunt, fr. weida pasturage, G. weide, akin to Icel. vei[eth]r hunting, AS. w[=a][eth]u, cf. L. venari to hunt, E. venison. See Gain, n., profit.] [1913 Webster]

1.To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by effort or labor; as, to gain a good living. [1913 Webster]

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?— Matt. xvi. 26.[1913 Webster]
To gain dominion, or to keep it gained.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

2.To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition; as, to gain a battle; to gain a case at law; to gain a prize. [1913 Webster]

3.To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate. [1913 Webster]

If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.— Matt. xviii. 15.[1913 Webster]
To gratify the queen, and gained the court.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

4.To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top of a mountain; to gain a good harbor. [1913 Webster]

Forded Usk and gained the wood.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]

5.To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage. [Obs. or Ironical] [1913 Webster]

Ye should . . . not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.— Acts xxvii. 21.[1913 Webster]

Gained day, the calendar day gained in sailing eastward around the earth.

To gain ground, to make progress; to advance in any undertaking; to prevail; to acquire strength or extent.

To gain over, to draw to one's party or interest; to win over.

To gain the wind (Naut.), to reach the windward side of another ship.

Syn: To obtain; acquire; get; procure; win; earn; attain; achieve.

Usage: See Obtain. -- To Gain, Win. Gain implies only that we get something by exertion; win, that we do it in competition with others. A person gains knowledge, or gains a prize, simply by striving for it; he wins a victory, or wins a prize, by taking it in a struggle with others. [1913 Webster]

Gain \Gain\, n. [Cf. W. gan a mortise.] (Arch.) A square or beveled 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. [1913 Webster]
Gain \Gain\, a. [OE. gein, gain, good, near, quick; cf. Icel. gegn ready, serviceable, and gegn, adv., against, opposite. Cf. Ahain.] Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]
Gain \Gain\ (g[=a]n), n. [OE. gain, gein, ga[yogh]hen, gain, advantage, Icel. gagn; akin to Sw. gagn, Dan. gavn, cf. Goth. gageigan to gain. The word was prob. influenced by F. gain gain, OF. gaain. Cf. Gain, v. t.]

1.That which is gained, obtained, or acquired, as increase, profit, advantage, or benefit; -- opposed to loss. [1913 Webster]

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.— Phil. iii. 7.[1913 Webster]
Godliness with contentment is great gain.— 1 Tim. vi. 6.[1913 Webster]
Every one shall share in the gains.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation. "The lust of gain." --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

Gain \Gain\, v. i. To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress; as, the sick man gains daily. [1913 Webster]

Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion. --Ezek. xxii. 12. [1913 Webster]

Gaining twist, in rifled firearms, a twist of the grooves, which increases regularly from the breech to the muzzle.

To gain on or To gain upon. (a) To encroach on; as, the ocean gains on the land. (b) To obtain influence with. (c) To win ground upon; to move faster than, as in a race or contest. (d) To get the better of; to have the advantage of. [1913 Webster]

The English have not only gained upon the Venetians in the Levant, but have their cloth in Venice itself.— Addison.[1913 Webster]
My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor, that I began to conceive hopes of liberty.— Swift.[1913 Webster]
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