gain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a quantity that is added
    addition; increase.
    • there was an addition to property taxes this year
    • they recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks
  2. noun the advantageous quality of being beneficial
    profit.
  3. noun the amount of increase in signal power or voltage or current expressed as the ratio of output to input
    amplification.
  4. noun the amount by which the revenue of a business exceeds its cost of operating
  5. verb obtain
    derive.
    • derive pleasure from one's garden
  6. verb win something through one's efforts
    win; acquire.
    • I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese
    • Gain an understanding of international finance
  7. verb derive a benefit from
    profit; benefit.
    • She profited from his vast experience
  8. verb reach a destination, either real or abstract
    hit; make; reach; attain; arrive at.
    • 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
  9. verb obtain advantages, such as points, etc.
    make headway; advance; gain ground; get ahead; win; pull ahead.
    • 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
  10. verb rise in rate or price
    advance.
    • The stock market gained 24 points today
  11. verb increase or develop
    gather.
    • the peace movement gained momentum
    • the car gathers speed
  12. verb earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
    earn; bring in; clear; pull in; take in; realise; realize; make.
    • 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
  13. verb increase (one's body weight)
    put on.
    • She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising

WordNet

Gain noun
Etymology
Cf. W. gan a mortise.
Definitions
  1. (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.
Gain adjective
Etymology
OE. gein, gain, good, near, quick; cf. Icel. gegn ready, serviceable, and gegn, adv., against, opposite. CF. Ahain.
Definitions
  1. Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable. Obs. or Prov. Eng.
Gain noun
Etymology
OE. gain, gein, gahen, 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.
Definitions
  1. That which is gained, obtained, or acquired, as increase, profit, advantage, or benefit; -- opposed to loss.
    But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Phil. iii. 7.
    Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Tim. vi. 6.
    Every one shall share in the gains. Shak.
  2. The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation. "The lust of gain." Tennyson.
Gain transitive verb
Etymology
From gain, n. but. prob. influenced by F. gagner to earn, gain, OF. gaaignier to cultivate, OHG. weidinn, weidinen to pasture, hunt, fr. weida pasturage, G. weide, akin to Icel. veir hunting, AS. wau, cf. L. venari to hunt, E. venison. See Gain, n., profit.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Gained ; present participle & verbal noun Gaining
Definitions
  1. To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by effort or labor; as, to gain a good living.
    What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Matt. xvi. 26.
    To gain dominion, or to keep it gained. Milton.
    For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease. Pope.
  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.
  3. To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.
    If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Matt. xviii. 15.
    To gratify the queen, and gained the court. Dryden.
  4. To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top of a mountain; to gain a good harbor.
    Forded Usk and gained the wood. Tennyson.
  5. To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage. Obs. or Ironical
    Ye should . . . not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. Acts xxvii. 21.
    Syn. -- To obtain; acquire; get; procure; win; earn; attain; achieve. 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.
Gain intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. 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.
    Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion. Ezek. xxii. 12.
    My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor, that I began to conceive hopes of liberty. Swift.

Webster 1913