2 gain
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural gainsMeaning:
1 [count] : something wanted or valued that is gotten : something that is gained ▪ ill-gotten gains [=money and other valuable things gotten through dishonest methods] ; especially : money gotten through some activity or process : profit ▪ financial/stock-market gains ▪ economic gains —see also capital gain
2 [noncount] : something that is helpful : advantage or benefit ▪ He acted only for his own personal/political gain. [=he acted only to benefit himself]
3 : an increase in amount, size, or number [count] ▪ a gain in weight ▪ impressive gains [=improvements] in performance ▪ They hope to make big gains in Congress in the coming election. [=they hope that many more members of their party will be elected to Congress] [noncount] ▪ The medication can cause nausea and weight gain.
4 [count] American football : the distance the ball is moved down the field during a play ▪ They picked up a five-yard gain on first down.
2 [noncount] : something that is helpful : advantage or benefit ▪ He acted only for his own personal/political gain. [=he acted only to benefit himself]
3 : an increase in amount, size, or number [count] ▪ a gain in weight ▪ impressive gains [=improvements] in performance ▪ They hope to make big gains in Congress in the coming election. [=they hope that many more members of their party will be elected to Congress] [noncount] ▪ The medication can cause nausea and weight gain.
4 [count] American football : the distance the ball is moved down the field during a play ▪ They picked up a five-yard gain on first down.
no pain, no gain also no gain without pain
informal —used to say that it is necessary to suffer or work hard in order to succeed or make progress