gain
[verb]
Synonyms:
- obtain, acquire, attain, capture, collect, gather, get, land, pick up, secure, win
- reach, arrive at, attain, come to, get to
- gain on: get nearer, approach, catch up with, close, narrow the gap, overtake
[noun]
Synonyms:
- profit, advantage, benefit, dividend, return, yield
- increase, advance, growth, improvement, progress, rise

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Antonyms: loss, lose
Contrasted words: falter, flop, flounder, flunk, lose
Related Words: cut, rake-off, share, take, winnings, ice, complete, consummate, fulfill, perfect, produce, succeed, invigorate, renew, strengthen, cure, heal, remedy

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English Thesaurus: get, obtain, acquire, inherit, gain, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. gain¹ S3 W2 /ɡeɪn/ verb
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: gagner, from Old French gaaignier 'to prepare the ground for growing crops, earn, gain']

1. GET SOMETHING [transitive] to obtain or achieve something you want or need
gain control/power
Radical left-wing parties gained control of local authorities.
After gaining independence in 1957, it was renamed ‘Ghana’.
gain a degree/qualification etc
He gained a doctorate in Chemical Engineering.

REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say get rather than gain:
She got a degree in English.

2. GET GRADUALLY [intransitive and transitive] to gradually get more and more of a quality, feeling etc, especially a useful or valuable one:
She has gained a reputation as a good communicator.
Many of his ideas have gained popular support.
an opportunity to gain experience in a work environment
The youngsters gradually gain confidence in their abilities.
gain in
The sport has gained in popularity in recent years.

3. ADVANTAGE [intransitive and transitive] to get an advantage from a situation, opportunity, or event
gain (something) from (doing) something
There is much to be gained from seeking expert advice early.
an attempt to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals
Who really stands to gain (=is likely to get an advantage) from these tax cuts?
There’s nothing to be gained (=it will not help you) by losing your temper.

4. INCREASE [transitive] to increase in weight, speed, height, or value:
Carrie’s gained a lot of weight recently.
The dollar has gained 8% against the yen.

5. gain access/entry/admittance etc (to something) to manage to enter a place, building, or organization:
New ramps will help the disabled gain better access.
methods used by burglars to gain entry to houses

6. gain an understanding/insight/impression etc to learn or find out about something
gain an understanding/insight/impression etc of
We are hoping to gain a better understanding of the underlying process.
This enabled me to gain an overall impression of the school.

7. gain ground to make steady progress and become more popular, more successful etc:
The anti-smoking lobby has steadily gained ground in the last decade.

8. gain time to deliberately do something to give yourself more time to think Antonym : lose time

9. CLOCK [intransitive and transitive] if a clock or watch gains, or if it gains time, it goes too fast Antonym : lose

10. ARRIVE [transitive] literary to reach a place after a lot of effort or difficulty:
The swimmer finally gained the river bank.
⇒ nothing ventured, nothing gained at venture²(3)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. gain² W3 noun

1. ADVANTAGE [countable] an advantage or improvement, especially one achieved by planning or effort:
The party made considerable gains at local elections.
gain in
substantial gains in efficiency
gain from
the potential gains from improved marketing
gain to/for
There are obvious gains for the student.

2. INCREASE [uncountable and countable] an increase in the amount or level of something Antonym : loss
gain in
a gain in weekly output
gain of
Retail sales showed a gain of 0.4%.
The Democratic Party needed a net gain of only 20 votes.
Eating too many fatty foods could cause weight gain.

3. PROFIT [uncountable] financial profit, especially when this seems to be the only thing someone is interested in Antonym : loss
financial/economic/capital etc gain
They are seeking to realize the maximum financial gain.
gain of
a pre-tax gain of $20 million
for gain
Such research should not be for personal gain. ⇒ capital gains

4. ill-gotten gains money or advantages obtained dishonestly – used humorously

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

gain
noun
ADJ. big, considerable, huge, major, real, significant, substantial This change in the tax system will mean big gains for some companies.
modest, small | long-term, short-term | potential | pre-tax | net, overall Labour made an overall gain of 39 seats.
ill-gotten She tucked her ill-gotten gains into her purse and left.
personal, private using the investments for their private gain
commercial, economic, financial, material There will be no financial gain for mothers from this new system.
electoral, political the far right made huge electoral gains
military, territorial | weight She was most upset by her recent weight gain.
efficiency, productivity There is still scope for efficiency gains (= gains to be made by being more efficient).
VERB + GAIN make | bring (sb) Better workplace design can bring real gains in productivity.
PREP. for ~ It's amazing what some people will do for gain.
~ from £3.9 million gains from the sale of stock
~ in Last year there was only a modest gain in earnings.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

gain
verb
ADV. certainly, undoubtedly Consumers have certainly gained from the increased competition in the telecommunications industry.
clearly | quickly, rapidly | gradually, slowly His ideas gradually gained acceptance.
steadily | eventually, finally, ultimately | successfully | automatically Husbands and wives of British nationals do not automatically gain citizenship.
easily
VERB + GAIN stand to The company stands to gain (= is likely to gain) quite a lot from this government scheme.
expect to, hope to What do you hope to gain by this action?
attempt to, seek to, strive to, try to Protesters tried to gain access to the presidential palace.
fail to
PREP. by There is nothing to be gained by forcing people to comply.
from We all gained a lot from the experience.
PHRASES have everything/much/little/a lot/nothing to gain/be gained Why not give it a go? You've nothing to lose and everything to gain. I don't think there's anything to be gained from this course of action.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

gain

gain control
The government of mainland China gained control of the island in 1683.
gain power
Many women wanted to gain power in a male-dominated world.
gain independence
Jamaica has had this flag since 1962, when it gained independence from Britain.
gain a reputation
He had gained a reputation as a crook.
gain notoriety (=become famous, especially for doing something bad)
He gained notoriety as the author of a controversial novel.
gain support
The proposal failed to gain support.
gain popularity
Governments gain popularity by cutting taxes.
gain acceptance
The theory has gradually gained acceptance among scientists.
gain credibility (=start to be believed or trusted, or start to be thought of as good)
Screen actors feel that they gain credibility when they perform on stage.
gain experience
In her first job, she gained experience as a programme manager.
gain knowledge
Knowledge gained from the research will be used directly to help patients.
gain confidence
The managers were gaining confidence in their ability to take calculated risks.
gain strength
He is beginning to gain strength again after his illness.
gain an understanding (=get knowledge based on learning and experience)
Drama is one of the key ways in which children can gain an understanding of themselves and of others.
gain an insight (into something) (=get a chance to understand more about something)
You can gain an insight into horses’ feelings by the physical signs they give out.
gain momentum (=keep increasing)
In the 1850s and 1860s, the British colonisation of India gained momentum.
quickly/rapidly gain something
Adam quickly gained the respect of the soldiers under his command.
steadily gain something
The king was steadily gaining more support.
gradually gain something
He is gradually gaining confidence in his own abilities.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

gain
verb
BAD: For two weeks' work, I gain about 700,000 yen.
GOOD: For two weeks' work, I earn about 700,000 yen.
BAD: Without a job it's impossible to gain any money.
GOOD: Without a job it's impossible to earn any money.

Usage Note:
earn or (especially in informal styles) get /make (a sum of) money by going to work, from investments, etc (NOT gain ): 'She earns $4,000 a month.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

get [not in passive] to get something by finding it, asking for it, or paying for it:
I’ve been trying to get some information.
She went to the bank to get some money.
obtain formal to get something:
Maps and guides can be obtained from the tourist office.
The newspaper has obtained a copy of the letter.
acquire formal to get something – used about knowledge, skills, or something big or expensive:
The course helps older people to acquire computing skills.
He acquired the property in 1985.
inherit to get someone’s money or property after they die:
Jo inherited a lot of money from her mother.
gain to get something useful or necessary, such as knowledge or experience:
I’ve gained a lot of useful experience.
The research helped us gain an insight into how a child’s mind works.
earn to get something because you deserve it:
He had earned a reputation as a peacemaker.
She earned a lot of respect from her colleagues.
get hold of something informal to get something that is rare or difficult to find:
I’m trying to get hold of a ticket for the game.
lay your hands on something informal to get something that you want very much or that you have spent a lot of time looking for:
I read every book I could lay my hands on.
increase noun [uncountable and countable] an occasion when the amount or number of something becomes bigger:
There has been a significant increase in violent crime over the past year.
price increases
growth noun [singular, uncountable] an increase in the number, size, or importance of something. Growth is also used when saying that a company or a country’s economy becomes more successful:
The astonishing growth of the Internet has had a dramatic effect on people’s lives.
Japan experienced a period of rapid economic growth.
Many people are concerned about the enormous growth in the world’s population.
rise noun [countable] an increase in the amount of something, or in the standard or level of something:
The latest figures show a sharp rise (=a sudden big rise) in unemployment in the region.
There was a 34 percent rise in the number of armed robberies.
The majority of families experienced a rise in living standards.
surge noun [countable usually singular] a sudden increase in something such as profits, demand, or interest:
There has been a big surge in demand for organically grown food.
We have seen a tremendous surge of interest in Chinese medicine.
hike noun [countable] informal especially American English a large or sudden increase in prices or taxes - often used in newspaper reports:
Despite a 25% hike in fuel costs, the airline made a profit last year.
tax hikes
wage hikes

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

increase to become larger in number, amount, or degree:
Sales increased by 25%.
The level of violence has increased.
go up to increase. Go up is less formal than increase, and is the usual verb to use in everyday English:
The price of coffee has gone up.
rise to increase. Rise sounds a little formal and is often used when talking about the level of something increasing:
The demand for oil has been rising steadily.
Living standards have risen dramatically.
grow to increase, especially gradually over a period of time – used about numbers or amounts:
Since 1990, US imports of foreign goods have grown at a rate of 7.7% per year.
The number of people working from home has grown substantially.
escalate to increase to a high level – used about things that you do not want to increase such as costs, crimes, or violence:
Fuel prices are escalating.
The fighting has escalated.
double/triple to become twice as much or three times as much:
Since 1950, the number of people dying from cancer has almost doubled.
The company’s profits tripled last quarter.
expand to become larger in size, or to include a wider range of activities:
The business has expanded at a rate of 15% per year.
We are hoping to expand into mobile phone services.
soar to increase and reach a very high level – used about numbers and amounts, or about feelings:
The temperature soared to 36.6 degrees centigrade.
His confidence soared.
The singer’s popularity has soared.
shoot up to increase very quickly and suddenly – used about prices, numbers, or temperatures:
Share prices shot up 30% over the last week.
put something up to increase prices, taxes etc. Put up something is less formal than increase, and is the usual verb to use in everyday English:
The landlord has put the rent up again.
They’re always putting up gas prices.
raise to increase something such as prices or taxes, or levels or standards:
The bank has raised interest rates for the third time this year.
The school aims to raise students’ levels of achievement.
boost to increase sales, profits, production etc, especially when they have been lower than you want them to be:
Growing affluence has boosted sales.
Oil exports boosted the economy.
extend to increase something such as your power or influence, or the number of things you are involved in:
We are hoping to extend the range of services that we offer.
The company plans to extend its dominance of the world car market.
step up something to increase your efforts or activities, especially to change a situation:
Security has been stepped up following the bombing.
Local people have stepped up their campaign to prevent a prison being built in their neighbourhood.
heighten to increase a feeling or effect:
The attack has heightened concerns about racism in schools.
Hunger can heighten the effect that alcohol has on you.
maximize to increase something as much as possible:
Businesses try to maximize efficiency and cut costs.
To maximize the chances of a successful pregnancy, you should make sure that you eat well.
big/large
The company has announced a big increase in its profits for last year.
slight/small
Doctors have reported a slight increase in the number of deaths caused by the disease.
The temperature increase was quite small.
great (=big)
There has been a great increase in air traffic in the last twenty years.
huge/massive (=very big)
There was a huge increase in emigration after the war.
substantial/considerable formal (=quite big)
He negotiated a substantial increase in pay for the workers.
significant/marked (=definite and noticeable)
Over the last few years, there has been a marked increase in tourism to developing countries.
dramatic/sharp (=large and sudden)
What has led to this dramatic increase in prices?
rapid (=happening quickly)
Recently there has been a rapid increase in fish farming.
modest (=small)
The figures reveal a modest increase in the birth rate.
gradual (=happening slowly)
Her temperature chart showed a gradual increase over the preceding six hours.
steady (=happening slowly but continuously)
The university has benefited from a steady increase in student numbers.
a threefold/fourfold/fivefold etc increase (=an increase by three, four etc times)
The figures show a threefold increase in incidents of car theft.
a 10%/50% etc increase
A 5% increase in petrol prices is predicted.
an annual increase
The company reported a 10% increase in pre-tax profits.
lead to an increase
They argue that the abolition of the death penalty has led to an increase in the number of murders.
cause/bring about an increase
The heatwave brought about a massive increase in water consumption.
a price increase
We expect a price increase of 1.4% this year.
a fare increase
The airline instituted a 10% fare increase.
a wage/pay/salary increase
Canadian workers received a 5.4% wage increase.
a tax increase
The government had no choice but to impose a tax increase.
be on the increase (=be increasing)
Knife attacks are on the increase.
the rate of increase
The rate of increase in the number of violent crimes is much higher than under the previous government.
growth noun [singular, uncountable] an increase in the number, size, or importance of something. Growth is also used when saying that a company or a country’s economy becomes more successful:
The astonishing growth of the Internet has had a dramatic effect on people’s lives.
Japan experienced a period of rapid economic growth.
Many people are concerned about the enormous growth in the world’s population.
surge noun [countable usually singular] a sudden increase in something such as profits, demand, or interest:
There has been a big surge in demand for organically grown food.
We have seen a tremendous surge of interest in Chinese medicine.
gain noun [uncountable and countable] an increase in the amount or level of something - used especially in business or political contexts, or when talking about an increase in someone’s weight:
sales gains
The December job figures show a net gain of 81,000 jobs.
The party has experienced a gain in popularity.
The amount of weight gain during pregnancy varies.
hike noun [countable] informal especially American English a large or sudden increase in prices or taxes - often used in newspaper reports:
Despite a 25% hike in fuel costs, the airline made a profit last year.
tax hikes
wage hikes
explosion noun [countable] a sudden very large increase in the amount or number of something:
There has been an explosion in the number of fast food restaurants.
The country experienced a population explosion.
The book caused an explosion of interest in Renaissance Italy.
boom noun [singular] a sudden large increase in trade, profits or sales, with the result that a country, company, or industry becomes very successful. Boom is also used about a sudden increase in interest in something, with the result that it becomes very popular:
the German economic boom of the 1960s
the Internet boom
There has been a boom in sales of diet books and videos.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

increase noun [uncountable and countable] an occasion when the amount or number of something becomes bigger:
There has been a significant increase in violent crime over the past year.
price increases
growth noun [singular, uncountable] an increase in the number, size, or importance of something. Growth is also used when saying that a company or a country’s economy becomes more successful:
The astonishing growth of the Internet has had a dramatic effect on people’s lives.
Japan experienced a period of rapid economic growth.
Many people are concerned about the enormous growth in the world’s population.
rise noun [countable] an increase in the amount of something, or in the standard or level of something:
The latest figures show a sharp rise (=a sudden big rise) in unemployment in the region.
There was a 34 percent rise in the number of armed robberies.
The majority of families experienced a rise in living standards.
surge noun [countable usually singular] a sudden increase in something such as profits, demand, or interest:
There has been a big surge in demand for organically grown food.
We have seen a tremendous surge of interest in Chinese medicine.
gain noun [uncountable and countable] an increase in the amount or level of something - used especially in business or political contexts, or when talking about an increase in someone’s weight:
sales gains
The December job figures show a net gain of 81,000 jobs.
The party has experienced a gain in popularity.
The amount of weight gain during pregnancy varies.
hike noun [countable] informal especially American English a large or sudden increase in prices or taxes - often used in newspaper reports:
Despite a 25% hike in fuel costs, the airline made a profit last year.
tax hikes
wage hikes

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲