# gaining

/ˈɡeɪnɪŋ/ (US) · /ɡˈeɪnɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. getting more of something

verb · CEFR A2

getting more of a quality or feeling over time.

For teachers: the process of obtaining or increasing a specific quality, amount, or advantage.

- The car was gaining speed as it went down the hill.
- The political movement is rapidly gaining momentum among younger voters who feel ignored by the traditional parties.

### 2. reaching a place

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

reaching a place or destination, often with some effort.

For teachers: reaching or arriving at a destination; often used in nautical or travel contexts to describe progress toward a goal.

- After hours of climbing, they were finally gaining the top of the mountain.
- The ship was slowly gaining the harbour despite the heavy fog and the rising tide against it.

### 3. profit or benefit

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of getting a profit or an advantage.

For teachers: the act of acquiring profit, advantage, or increase; often functions as a gerund describing the pursuit of benefit.

- He was only interested in personal gaining and didn't care about the team.
- The report focused on the gaining of new territories during the nineteenth century and the subsequent economic shifts.

## Examples

- The car is gaining speed as it goes down the hill.
- The new political party is gaining support among younger voters who want faster environmental changes.
- By analyzing the quarterly data, the research team is gaining a clearer understanding of how consumer habits shift during the winter months.

---

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.