gain

gain

verb

Definition of GAIN

1

to gradually increase in <our hopes were raised as the movement gained strength>

Synonyms build up, gather, grow (in), pick up

Related Words double (in), triple (in); accrue, accumulate, amass; excite, stimulate; enhance, enlarge, enrich, expand, extend, maximize; boost, elevate, jack (up), mount, ramp (up), step up

Near Antonyms abate, decline (in), diminish (in), dip, dwindle, fall (in), lessen, taper, taper off

Antonyms decrease (in), lose

2

to receive as return for effort <gained her affections with his boyishly shy manner>

Synonyms acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win

Related Words clear, gross, net; accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score; accumulate, amass, draw, rack up; catch, pick up; annex, occupy, take over; reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake

Near Antonyms accord, give, grant, pay; give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

Antonyms forfeit, lose

3

to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <is steadily gaining after his bout with the flu and will be back on his feet soon>

Synonyms come back, gain, heal, mend, pull round [chiefly British], rally, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back

Related Words come around, come round, come to, improve, pick up, revive; cheer (up), perk (up); pull through, survive; recruit

Near Antonyms ail, collapse, come down, sicken; decline, degenerate, deteriorate, fade, fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen; regress, relapse

4

to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number <the new version of the car gained in both width and length compared to the earlier model>

Synonyms accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax

Related Words jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge; heighten, intensify, redouble; blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up); crescendo, crest, peak

Antonyms contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

5

to obtain (as a goal) through effort <vowed to gain control of the company by any means necessary>

Synonyms attain, bag, chalk up, clock (up) [chiefly British], gain, hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, win

Related Words acquire, capture, carry, draw, garner, get, land, make, obtain, procure, realize, secure; amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to), meet, rival, tie, touch; beat, excel, outdo, surpass, top

Near Antonyms fall short (of), miss; fail (at); lose

6

to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request <the radical party was able to gain some supporters with intense recruitment on college campuses>

Synonyms argue, bring, bring around, convert, convince, gain, get, induce, move, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)

Related Words blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle; allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt; brainwash, overpersuade; incline, influence, move, prompt, sell, sway; attract, draw, entice, interest; chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot; reason (with)

Near Antonyms deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell