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, earn, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, winRelated 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, remakeNear Antonyms accord, give, grant, pay; give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yieldAntonyms 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, convalesce, heal, mend, pull round [chiefly British], rally, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap backRelated Words come around, come round, come to, improve, pick up, revive; cheer (up), perk (up); pull through, survive; recruitNear 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, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, waxRelated Words jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge; heighten, intensify, redouble; blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up); crescendo, crest, peakAntonyms 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], achieve, hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, winRelated 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, topNear 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, persuade, 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