Meaning of gain In English

• 0 to get something that is useful, that gives you an advantage, or that is in some way positive, especially over a period of time:

  • The mayor has gained a lot of support from the teacher's union.

  • What do you hope to gain from the course?

  • Alternative medicine has only just started to gain respectability in our society.

  • [ + two objects ] It was her performances in Aida that gained her an international reputation as a soprano.

  • After you've gained some experience teaching abroad, you can come home and get a job.

  • From the late 19th century, European powers began to gain control of parts of the Ottoman Empire.

  • She's certainly gained (in) confidence over the last couple of years.

  • The data exists all right - the difficulty is in gaining access to it.

  • The thieves gained entrance through an upstairs window that was left open.

  • The Republicans are gaining ground in the southern states.

• 1 to increase in weight, speed, height, or amount:

  • I gained a lot of weight while I was on holiday.

  • The car gained speed going down the hill.

  • Good economic indicators caused the share index to gain (by) ten points.

  • The campaign has been gaining momentum over the past few weeks.

• 2 If a clock or watch gains, it works too quickly and shows a time that is later than the real time:

  • My watch has gained (by) ten minutes over the last 24 hours.

• 3 an occasion when you get something useful or positive:

  • Whatever the objections to this sort of treatment, the gains in terms of the number of lives saved are substantial.

  • The minister was sacked for abusing power for his personal gain.

• 4 an increase in something such as size, weight, or amount:

  • Side effects of the drugs may include tiredness, headaches, or weight gain.

  • After deducting costs, we still made a net gain of £5,000.

  • Oil prices rose again today after yesterday's gains.

• 5 to obtain something useful, advantageous, or positive:

  • He gained control of the business.

  • You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

  • He hoped to gain an advantage by beginning his campaign early.

• 6 to increase in weight, speed, height, or amount:

  • [ T ] I’ve gained weight, and I’m going on a diet.

  • [ T ] The campaign has been gaining momentum ever since the television ads started to run.

  • [ I ] Step on the gas – they’re gaining on us (= getting nearer to us).

• 7 an increase in size, weight, amount, etc.:

  • Having deducted costs we still made a net gain of five thousand pounds.

  • Stocks ended the day with a moderate gain.

• 8 something useful or good that you get for yourself:

  • He was fired for abusing his position for his own personal gain.

• 9 to increase in amount or value:

  • On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrials gained more than 52 points.

• 10 to get something that is important or gives you an advantage, especially over a period of time:

  • Most temporary employees say they gained new abilities through their assignments.

• 11 to be allowed to use or receive something:

  • Every day, more citizens gain access to the Web and each other.

  • He is willing to invest millions of dollars in cooperative ventures in China if he can gain access to the market.

• 12 to become more commonly known or accepted:

  • Two ideas for constructing a tax reduction have been gaining currency in internal debates.

• 13 to become more popular or successful:

  • gain ground on sb/sth After three decades the carmaker is actually gaining ground on the competition.

  • Even as companies in the US are gaining ground overseas, they are also sending more American-made products abroad.

  • gain ground against sth The dollar has been gaining ground against the yen in overseas trading.