Definition of gain
1 : resources or advantage acquired or increased : profit made substantial gains last year
2 : the act or process of acquiring something
3a : an increase in amount, magnitude, or degree a gain in efficiencyb : the increase (as of voltage or signal intensity) caused by an amplifier; especially : the ratio of output over inputc : the signal-gathering ability of an antenna
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Examples of gain in a Sentence
The medication can cause nausea and weight gain.
attributed her recent weight gain to the medication she was taking
gain
Definition of gain
transitive verb
1a : to acquire or get possession of usually by industry, merit, or craft gain an advantage he stood to gain a fortuneb : to win in competition or conflict the troops gained enemy territoryc (1) : to arrive at : reach, attain gained the river that night (2) : traverse, cover gained 10 yards on the playd : to get by a natural development or process gain strengthe : to establish a specific relationship with gain a friend
2a : to make an increase of (a specified amount) gained three percent in the past monthb : to increase in (a particular quality) gain momentum
3 : to win to one's side : persuade gain adherents to a cause
4 : to cause to be obtained or given : attract gain attention
5 of a timepiece : to run fast by the amount of the clock gains a minute a day
intransitive verb
1 : to get advantage : profit hoped to gain by the deal
2a : increase the day was gaining in warmthb : to increase in weightc : to improve in health or ability
3 of a timepiece : to run fast
gainer
noungain ground
Examples of gain in a Sentence
They stand to gain an advantage over their competitors by getting an early start.
What do you hope to gain from this?
gain control of the territory
Investigators are trying to gain access to the group's financial records.
We were unable to gain admission to the club.
We need to gain a better understanding of the problem.
They had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
He first gained attention as a young writer.
Her theories are slowly gaining acceptance.
I took the job to gain experience.
Origin and Etymology of gain
Middle English gaynen “to prevail against,” borrowed from Anglo-French gaainer, gaaigner “to cultivate, till, secure (profit, advantage), capture, acquire, be victorious,” going back to Old Low Franconian *waiđanjan, of uncertain meaning and origin ◆The presumed Old Low Franconian verb *waiđanjan has no exact counterpart in neighboring Germanic languages, and given the diverse meanings of the French verb, hypotheses that explain it are all somewhat tenuous. The base has traditionally been taken to be that of Old High German weida “pasture,” Old Saxon weiđa, from which a verb meaning “to pasture” was derived, which then hypothetically developed the sense “to cultivate, till” and further derived senses. Alternatively, the verb could be linked to Old High German weidenōn “to hunt,” a derivative of weida “hunt, quantity of game taken, catch” (corresponding to Old English wāth “hunt, chase, wandering,” Old Norse veiðr “catch, haul of fish”). In Middle English both the noun and verb are presumed to have crossed with borrowings of Old Norse gagn “advantage, victory.” Early Modern English gain has acquired senses directly from Middle French and French gagner.
GAIN Defined for English Language Learners
gain
playDefinition of gain for English Language Learners
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: something wanted or valued that is gotten : something that is gained; especially : money gotten through some activity or process
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: something that is helpful : advantage or benefit
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: an increase in amount, size, or number
gain
Definition of gain for English Language Learners
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: to get (something wanted or valued)
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: to win (something) in a competition, battle, etc.
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: to gradually get (something) or more of (something) as time passes
GAIN Defined for Kids
Definition of gain for Students
gained
;gaining
1 : to get or win often by effort You gain knowledge by study. He exercised to gain strength.
2 : to get or acquire in a natural or gradual way He gained ten pounds.
3 : to increase in The car gained speed.
4 : to get to : reach The swimmer gained the shore.
5 : to get an advantage : profit We all gained from the lesson.
Medical Dictionary
gain
playMedical Definition of gain
: to improve in health the patient gained daily
Law Dictionary
gain
Legal Definition of gain
1 : an increase in value, capital, or amount — compare loss capital gain : a gain realized on the sale or exchange of a capital asset (as a stock or real estate) casualty gain : a gain realized by an insured because property insurance benefits paid for a loss from a casualty or theft are greater than the adjusted value of the insured asset long–term capital gain : a capital gain realized on the sale or exchange of an asset held for more than a specified period (as a year) ordinary gain : a gain from the exchange or sale of an asset that is not capital short–term capital gain : a capital gain realized on the sale or exchange of an asset held for less than a specified period (as a year) that is treated as ordinary income under federal income tax laws
2 pl in the civil law of Louisiana : a class of community property that reflects the increase in property value contributed by the common skill or labor of the spouses
gain
verbLearn More about gain
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See words that rhyme with gain Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gain Spanish Central: Translation of gain Nglish: Translation of gain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gain for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gain
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