Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

gain

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of gain

1 something added (as by growth)
  • attributed her recent weight gain to the medication she was taking
Synonyms of gain

accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, increase, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick
Words Related to gain

accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering

complement

accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn

jump, run-up, spike
Near Antonyms of gain

deduction, subtraction
Antonyms of gain

abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
2 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 of gain

earnings, lucre, net, payoff, proceeds, profit, return
Words Related to gain

cleanup, killing, windfall

bottom line

gross, sales

compensation, emolument, income, pay, payment, remittal, requital, salary, wages

interest, return, revenue, yield
Near Antonyms of gain

charge, cost, disbursement, expenditure, expense, loss, outgo, outlay
3 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 of gain

earnings, income, incoming(s), proceeds, profit, return, revenue, yield
Words Related to gain

killing, windfall

salary, take-home pay, tips, wages

bankroll, capital, coffers, exchequer, finances, funds, money, pocket, pocketbook, resources, wherewithal
Near Antonyms of gain

charge, cost, disbursement, expenditures, expenses, outgo, outlay

gain

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of gain

1 to gradually increase in
  • our hopes were raised as the movement gained strength
Synonyms of gain

build up, gather, grow (in), pick up
Words Related to gain

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 of gain

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

decrease (in), lose
2 to receive as return for effort
  • gained her affections with his boyishly shy manner
Synonyms of gain

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

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 of gain

accord, give, grant, pay

give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield
Antonyms of gain

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 of gain

come back, convalesce, heal, mend, pull round [chiefly British], rally, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back
Words Related to gain

come around, come round, come to, improve, pick up, revive

cheer (up), perk (up)

pull through, survive

recruit
Near Antonyms of gain

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 of gain

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, wax
Words Related to gain

jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge

heighten, intensify, redouble

blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up)

crescendo, crest, peak
Antonyms of gain

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 of gain

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

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 of gain

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 of gain

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

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 of gain

deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell

Learn More about gain

  1. See words that rhyme with gain Dictionary: Definition of gain Medical Dictionary: Definition of 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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up gain? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

decoct

Listen to the pronounciation of decoct

to boil down or concentrate

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. exonerate Barr summarizes Mueller report

  2. catamount Vermont enters the Round of 64

  3. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games