Synonyms of gain

gain 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to gather

to gradually increase in

our hopes were raised as the movement gained strength

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gather
• accumulate
• grow (in)
• expand
• build up
• enhance
• accrue
• excite
• amass
• mount
• pick up
• maximize
• extend
• stimulate
• double (in)
• enrich
• enlarge
• boost
• elevate
• triple (in)
• step up
• ramp (up)
• jack (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose
• decrease (in)
• fall (in)
• decline (in)
• lessen
• diminish (in)
• dip
• abate
• dwindle
• taper
• taper off

2

as in to earn

to receive as return for effort

gained her affections with his boyishly shy manner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• earn
• win
• reap
• garner
• obtain
• get
• make
• attain
• acquire
• land
• realize
• secure
• capture
• achieve
• procure
• draw
• carry
• bring in
• come by
• pull down
• knock down
• accomplish
• accumulate
• regain
• score
• gross
• bag
• amass
• net
• occupy
• recapture
• catch
• take over
• clear
• pick up
• reacquire
• notch (up)
• rack up
• annex
• remake
• reattain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose
• give
• pay
• forfeit
• grant
• yield
• accord
• give up
• surrender
• relinquish
• part (with)
• hand over

3

as in to recover

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 & Similar Words

• recover
• improve
• heal
• recuperate
• come back
• recoup
• rally
• snap back
• pull round
• come to
• survive
• convalesce
• come around
• revive
• come round
• mend
• recruit
• pull through
• pick up
• cheer (up)
• perk (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

4

as in to increase

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 & Similar Words

• increase
• rise
• accelerate
• swell
• expand
• climb
• accumulate
• multiply
• intensify
• spread
• wax
• roll up
• appreciate
• snowball
• escalate
• proliferate
• mount
• enlarge
• jump
• build up
• surge
• boom
• balloon
• mushroom
• heighten
• bourgeon
• skyrocket
• burgeon
• peak
• bulk
• rocket
• redouble
• inflate
• puff (up)
• distend
• blow up
• crest
• crescendo

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decrease
• diminish
• lessen
• recede
• contract
• dwindle
• wane

5

as in to achieve

to obtain (as a goal) through effort

vowed to gain control of the company by any means necessary

Synonyms & Similar Words

• achieve
• attain
• win
• obtain
• make
• garner
• score
• get
• hit
• acquire
• secure
• capture
• log
• land
• realize
• draw
• procure
• carry
• rack up
• chalk up
• clock (up)
• ring up
• excel
• notch (up)
• bag
• equal
• tie
• touch
• match
• meet
• approach
• surpass
• amount (to)
• top
• rival
• measure up (to)
• outdo
• beat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• lose
• fail (at)
• fall short (of)

6

as in to persuade

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 & Similar Words

• persuade
• convince
• satisfy
• bring
• get
• induce
• move
• convert
• urge
• attract
• prevail (on or upon)
• win (over)
• talk (into)
• argue
• coax
• bring around
• sell
• seduce
• influence
• lure
• entice
• prompt
• sway
• entreat
• tempt
• interest
• wheedle
• exhort
• cajole
• allure
• draw
• lead on
• snow
• beguile
• discuss
• incline
• converse
• blandish
• fast-talk
• overpersuade
• debate
• dispute
• brainwash
• blarney
• chew over
• moot
• reason (with)
• hash (over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deter
• discourage
• dissuade
• unsell

gain

2 of 2

noun

ˈgān 

1

as in increase

something added (as by growth)

attributed her recent weight gain to the medication she was taking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increase
• boost
• raise
• addition
• rise
• increment
• augmentation
• expansion
• plus
• accrual
• supplement
• step-up
• accumulation
• proliferation
• accretion
• more
• uptick
• addendum
• continuation
• jump
• gathering
• extension
• collection
• complement
• spike
• upturn
• appendix
• accession
• assemblage
• uptrend
• run-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loss
• decrease
• reduction
• decline
• fall
• lowering
• depletion
• diminution
• shrinkage
• lessening
• abatement
• decrement
• falloff
• diminishment
• deduction
• drop-off
• step-down
• subtraction

2

as in profit

the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received

the company posted a substantial fourth-quarter gain, signaling an end to their money-losing ventures

Synonyms & Similar Words

• profit
• earnings
• proceeds
• return
• payoff
• income
• net
• salary
• lucre
• sales
• revenue
• pay
• killing
• wages
• yield
• bottom line
• windfall
• compensation
• cleanup
• payment
• interest
• gross
• emolument
• remittal
• requital

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loss
• cost
• expense
• charge
• expenditure
• outlay
• disbursement
• outgo

3

as in revenue

usually gains plural an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property

net gains this year were better than last

Synonyms & Similar Words

• revenue
• profit
• earnings
• yield
• return
• income
• proceeds
• incoming(s)
• windfall
• wages
• salary
• killing
• resources
• funds
• money
• pocket
• capital
• take-home pay
• tips
• finances
• exchequer
• coffers
• pocketbook
• bankroll
• wherewithal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cost
• expenses
• charge
• expenditures
• outlay
• disbursement
• outgo

Examples of gain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The restaurant steadily gained a following and moved to 6916 E. 30th St. in the Arlington Woods neighborhood in 2012. —Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Oct. 2024

The storm is gaining considerable energy thanks to high sea-surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, which is far hotter than usual. —Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024

Noun

On third and goal at the seven, Martin scrambled for a one-yard gain instead of forcing a pass into tight coverage, allowing Mateen Bhaghani to kick a 25-yard field goal that shaved Penn State’s lead to 7-3. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024

Adding to the upbeat report: Job gains in July and August were significantly revised higher, confirming the summer slowdown that worried economists didn't happen. —Courtenay Brown, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing gain

• gain ground