1 gain
Pronounced:
/ˈgeɪn/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
gains; gained; gain·ingMeaning:
1 [+ obj] a : to get (something wanted or valued) ▪ They stand to gain an advantage over their competitors by getting an early start. ▪ What do you hope to gain from/by this? ▪ gain control of/over the territory ▪ Investigators are trying to gain access to the group's financial records. ▪ We were unable to gain admission/entrance/entry 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/recognition/fame as a young writer. ▪ Her theories are slowly gaining acceptance. ▪ She's gaining confidence in herself. [=she is becoming more confident] ▪ I took the job to gain experience. b : to win (something) in a competition, battle, etc. ▪ He is still hoping to gain the party's nomination. ▪ gain a victory c : to gradually get (something) or more of (something) as time passes ▪ He gained 40 pounds over five years, and then lost it all in two. ▪ gain weight ▪ The baby is quickly gaining strength in her legs.
2 [+ obj] : to cause (someone) to have (something) ▪ His recent behavior has gained [=earned] him a reputation for stubbornness. ▪ Her hard work gained her their respect. [=she has gained their respect through hard work; they respect her now because of her hard work]
3 a : to increase in (something) [+ obj] ▪ This event gains popularity [=becomes more popular] each year. ▪ The plane was gaining altitude. ▪ Some of the stocks are gaining value, while others are losing value. [no obj] ▪ Some of the stocks are gaining, while others are losing. —usually + in ▪ This event gains in popularity each year ▪ The stocks are gaining in value. b [+ obj] : to increase in value by (a specified amount) ▪ The stocks gained three percent last month. c [no obj] : to increase in value when compared to something else ▪ The dollar gained against the pound last month.
4 [no obj] : to get an advantage ▪ The company hopes to gain [=profit] from the new regulations.
5 [+ obj] American football : to move the ball (a specified distance) down the field ▪ They gained five yards on the last play.
6 of a clock or watch : to show a time that is later than the correct time : to run fast [no obj] ▪ The clock gains by less than a second a year. [+ obj] ▪ The clock gains less than a second a year.
7 [+ obj] formal : to arrive at (a place) especially after much effort ▪ The tired swimmer gained the shore at last.
2 [+ obj] : to cause (someone) to have (something) ▪ His recent behavior has gained [=earned] him a reputation for stubbornness. ▪ Her hard work gained her their respect. [=she has gained their respect through hard work; they respect her now because of her hard work]
3 a : to increase in (something) [+ obj] ▪ This event gains popularity [=becomes more popular] each year. ▪ The plane was gaining altitude. ▪ Some of the stocks are gaining value, while others are losing value. [no obj] ▪ Some of the stocks are gaining, while others are losing. —usually + in ▪ This event gains in popularity each year ▪ The stocks are gaining in value. b [+ obj] : to increase in value by (a specified amount) ▪ The stocks gained three percent last month. c [no obj] : to increase in value when compared to something else ▪ The dollar gained against the pound last month.
4 [no obj] : to get an advantage ▪ The company hopes to gain [=profit] from the new regulations.
5 [+ obj] American football : to move the ball (a specified distance) down the field ▪ They gained five yards on the last play.
6 of a clock or watch : to show a time that is later than the correct time : to run fast [no obj] ▪ The clock gains by less than a second a year. [+ obj] ▪ The clock gains less than a second a year.
7 [+ obj] formal : to arrive at (a place) especially after much effort ▪ The tired swimmer gained the shore at last.
gain a/the jump on —see 2jump
gain ground —see 1ground
gain on [phrasal verb]
gain on (someone or something) : to come nearer to (someone or something that is ahead of you in a race or competition) ▪ She was still leading at the halfway point, but the other runners were gaining on her.
gain time
: to cause something to be delayed so that more time is available to do what is needed ▪ His lawyers are delaying the trial to gain time to prepare their defense.
—gain·er noun plural gain·ers [count] ▪ a stock that was one of the year's biggest gainers [=one of the stocks that increased the most in value]