# gain

/ˈɡeɪn/ (US) · /ɡˈeɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gain
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to acquire or obtain

verb · CEFR B1

to get something that is useful or positive, such as information, experience, or an advantage.

For teachers: to obtain or acquire something desirable or advantageous. Transitive — takes a direct object.

- She hoped to gain some work experience during her summer internship.
- By volunteering at the local clinic, the medical student hoped to gain practical insights that textbooks alone could not provide.

### 2. to increase in amount

verb · CEFR B1

to increase in a specific quality like weight, speed, or height.

For teachers: to increase in a particular measurement or quality. Often used with 'weight' or 'speed'.

- The car began to gain speed as it went down the hill.
- The patient began to gain weight steadily once the new nutritional plan was implemented by the hospital staff.

### 3. to reach a place

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to arrive at a destination, especially after a difficult journey.

For teachers: to reach or arrive at a destination through effort or progress.

- The climbers finally gained the summit just before the sun went down.
- After hours of struggling through the dense undergrowth, the explorers finally gained the crest of the ridge and saw the valley below.

### 4. to catch up

verb · CEFR B2

to get closer to someone you are chasing or following.

For teachers: to narrow the distance between oneself and a person or thing being pursued. Usually used with the preposition 'on'.

- The police car was gaining on the stolen vehicle during the chase.
- Despite his late start, the lead runner noticed that the challenger was slowly gaining on him during the final lap.

### 5. profit or advantage

noun · CEFR B2

an increase in wealth, power, or a similar advantage.

For teachers: an increase in wealth, assets, or advantage; often used in financial or political contexts.

- The company reported a significant gain in profits this year.
- The unexpected political gain in the northern territories shifted the balance of power within the coalition government.

### 6. signal increase

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the amount by which an electronic signal is made stronger.

For teachers: the ratio of output power or voltage to input power or voltage in an electronic system.

- You can adjust the gain on the microphone if the sound is too quiet.
- The engineer increased the gain on the amplifier to compensate for the signal loss over the long cable run.

### 7. woodworking notch

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small cut or hole made in a piece of wood to hold another piece.

For teachers: a notch or mortise cut into a timber to receive the end of another beam or joist.

- The carpenter cut a gain into the post to support the crossbeam.
- The structural integrity of the floor depended on the precision of each gain cut into the primary girders.

## Examples

- The company reports a small financial gain.
- After months of training, his gain in muscle mass was clearly visible to everyone.
- The short-term political gain from the new policy was quickly offset by the long-term economic damage it inflicted on international trade relations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.