From Middle English gayn, gain, gein (“profit, advantage”), from Old Norse gagn (“benefit, advantage, use”), from Proto-Germanic *gagną, *gaganą (“gain, profit", literally "return”), from Proto-Germanic *gagana (“back, against, in return”), a reduplication of Proto-Germanic *ga- (“with, together”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“next to, at, with, along”).
Cognate with Icelandic gagn (“gain, advantage, use”), Swedish gagn (“benefit, profit”), Danish gavn (“gain, profit, success”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌴𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (gageigan, “to gain, profit”), Old Norse gegn (“ready”), dialectal Swedish gen (“useful, noteful”), Latin cum (“with”); see gain-, again, against. Compare also Middle English gaynen, geinen (“to be of use, profit, avail”), Icelandic and Swedish gagna (“to avail, help”), Danish gavne (“to benefit”).
The Middle English word was reinforced by Middle French gain (“gain, profit, advancement, cultivation”), from Old French gaaing, gaaigne, gaigne, a noun derivative of gaaignier, gaigner (“to till, earn, win”), from Frankish *waiþanōn (“to pasture, graze, hunt for food”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *waiþiz, *waiþō, *waiþijō (“pasture, field, hunting ground”); compare Old High German weidōn, weidanōn (“to hunt, forage for food”) (Modern German Weide (“pasture”)), Old Norse veiða (“to catch, hunt”), Old English wǣþan (“to hunt, chase, pursue”). Related to wide.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) The act of gaining; acquisition.
When power is sought primarily for private gain, the social fabric decays and unravels. 2023 June 25, Charles Hugh Smith, The Corruption of POTUS, SCOTUS and SCROTUS:
the lust of gain, in the spirit of Cain 1855, Alfred Tennyson, Maude:
People are more willing to take a risk to avoid a loss than to make a gain.
All running headlong after greedie ſpoiles:
And more regarding gaine than victorie: c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii:
(countable, uncountable) The thing or things gained.
Everyone shall share in the gains. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
(countable, uncountable) The factor by which a signal is multiplied.
There follows the high and low-frequency replay equalization, which normally involves two adjustments with a further control allowing the replay gain to be set. 1987, John Borwick, Sound recording practice, page 238:
nl winst (what one gains (profit)) · es ganancia (act of gaining) · hy ի հայտ բերել (act of gaining) · enm win (what one gains (profit)) · fa سود (what one gains (profit)) · uk ви́граш (what one gains (profit)) · it lucro (what one gains (profit)) · hu szerzés (act of gaining) · ka მიღება (act of gaining) · es ganancia (what one gains (profit)) · he רֶוַח (what one gains (profit)) · de Zugewinnen (act of gaining) · sv vinst (what one gains (profit)) · ka შენაძენი (what one gains (profit)) · ka მატება (act of gaining) · fi hyöty (what one gains (profit)) · hu nyereség (what one gains (profit)) · hi संप्राप्ति (what one gains (profit)) · bg усилване (factor by which signal is multiplied) · ka მომატება (act of gaining) · nb gevinst (what one gains (profit)) · gl ganancia (act of gaining) · de Gewinn (what one gains (profit)) · fi voitto (what one gains (profit)) · ru прибы́ток (what one gains (profit)) · ka მიღებული (what one gains (profit)) · la fanus (what one gains (profit)) · ru вы́года (what one gains (profit)) · ota حاصل (what one gains (profit)) · ja 利得 (factor by which signal is multiplied) · enm gayn (what one gains (profit)) · hu haszon (what one gains (profit)) · fr gain (what one gains (profit)) · hi लाभ (what one gains (profit)) · ca guany (act of gaining) · fr gain (act of gaining) · fi voittaminen (act of gaining) · no forsterkning (factor by which signal is multiplied) · txb kallau (what one gains (profit)) · ja 進展 (what one gains (profit)) · ru приобрете́ние (act of gaining) · it profitto (act of gaining) · ru вы́игрыш (what one gains (profit)) · fi vahvistus (factor by which signal is multiplied) · nn gevinst (what one gains (profit)) · da gevinst (what one gains (profit)) · la fructum (what one gains (profit)) · fa بهره (what one gains (profit)) · ota آصی (what one gains (profit)) · got 𐌲𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌹 (what one gains (profit)) · de Verstärkung (factor by which signal is multiplied) · hu megszerzés (act of gaining) · sv förstärkning (factor by which signal is multiplied) · es elevación subida (what one gains (profit)) · ru получе́ние (act of gaining) · ka მოგება (what one gains (profit)) · pt ganho (what one gains (profit)) · nb utbytte (what one gains (profit)) · cs zisk (what one gains (profit)) · uk прибу́ток (what one gains (profit)) · bg печелене (act of gaining) · it profitto (what one gains (profit)) · ka გაძლიერება (factor by which signal is multiplied) · la quaestus (what one gains (profit)) · ja 進歩 (what one gains (profit)) · ja 増幅率 (factor by which signal is multiplied) · ota فائده (what one gains (profit)) · es desnivel positivo (what one gains (profit)) · ru при́быль (what one gains (profit)) · ru усиле́ние (factor by which signal is multiplied) · hu elnyerés (act of gaining) · fi voitto (act of gaining) · de Gewinnen (act of gaining) · ka შემოსავალი (what one gains (profit)) · ga brabach (what one gains (profit)) · nn utbytte (what one gains (profit)) · es ganancia (factor by which signal is multiplied) · de Ausbeute (what one gains (profit)) · hy վաստակ (what one gains (profit)) · it guadagno (what one gains (profit)) · tr kazanç (factor by which signal is multiplied) · bg печалба (what one gains (profit)) · it guadagno (act of gaining) · de Ertrag (what one gains (profit)) · ka სარგებელი (what one gains (profit)) · pt ganho (act of gaining) · ka გაზრდა (act of gaining) · gd prothaid (what one gains (profit)) · uk поси́лення (factor by which signal is multiplied) · de Zugewinn (what one gains (profit)) · it guadagno (factor by which signal is multiplied)
From Middle English gayn, gain, gein (“profit, advantage”), from Old Norse gagn (“benefit, advantage, use”), from Proto-Germanic *gagną, *gaganą (“gain, profit", literally "return”), from Proto-Germanic *gagana (“back, against, in return”), a reduplication of Proto-Germanic *ga- (“with, together”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“next to, at, with, along”).
Cognate with Icelandic gagn (“gain, advantage, use”), Swedish gagn (“benefit, profit”), Danish gavn (“gain, profit, success”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌴𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (gageigan, “to gain, profit”), Old Norse gegn (“ready”), dialectal Swedish gen (“useful, noteful”), Latin cum (“with”); see gain-, again, against. Compare also Middle English gaynen, geinen (“to be of use, profit, avail”), Icelandic and Swedish gagna (“to avail, help”), Danish gavne (“to benefit”).
The Middle English word was reinforced by Middle French gain (“gain, profit, advancement, cultivation”), from Old French gaaing, gaaigne, gaigne, a noun derivative of gaaignier, gaigner (“to till, earn, win”), from Frankish *waiþanōn (“to pasture, graze, hunt for food”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *waiþiz, *waiþō, *waiþijō (“pasture, field, hunting ground”); compare Old High German weidōn, weidanōn (“to hunt, forage for food”) (Modern German Weide (“pasture”)), Old Norse veiða (“to catch, hunt”), Old English wǣþan (“to hunt, chase, pursue”). Related to wide.
Meanings
(transitive) To acquire possession of.
Looks like you’ve gained a new friend.
Another answers, ‘Let him be,
He loves to make parade of pain,
That with his piping he may gain
The praise that comes to constancy.’ 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 35:
What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 16:26:
(intransitive) To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.
Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezekiel 22:12:
The sick man gains daily.
(dated, transitive) To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.
to gain a battle; to gain a case at law
(transitive) To increase.
Then they had bouts of wrestling and of cudgel play, so that every day they gained in skill and strength. 1883, Howard Pyle, chapter V, in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood […], New York, N.Y.: […] Charles Scribner’s Sons […], →OCLC:
(intransitive, often, with-on) To grow more likely to catch or overtake someone.
I’m gaining (on you).
to gain ground
(transitive) To reach.
to gain the top of a mountain
Ernest laughed harshly and savagely when he had gained the street. 1908 February 19, Jack London, The Iron Heel, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., →OCLC:
To draw into any interest or party; to win to one’s side; to conciliate.
to gratify the queen, and gain the court 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 18:15:
(intransitive) To put on weight.
I’ve been gaining.
Thinspo, bonespo, meanspo, sweetspo, anything that could motivate me not to eat, not to consume, not to gain, not to fail. 2020, Riley Willman, “Ana”, in Rapids Review (Anoka Ramsey Community College):
(ambitransitive, dated, of a timekeeping device) To run fast, often by a specified amount.
"Don't hurry immediately after your breakfast, Geoffrey. You know that clock gains five minutes every day and it's only—" called out Miss Tilehurst, but Geoffrey was technically out of earshot then […] 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
Don't rely on that clock: it gains.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
gainedst
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past
archaic
lexicographic
gain
Number=Plur, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
gain
VerbForm=Inf
lexicographic
gain
Mood=Sub, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
gain
Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
gain
Mood=Imp, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
gain
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
gained
Number=Plur, Tense=Past
lexicographic
gained
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Past
lexicographic
gained
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past
lexicographic
gained
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
gained
Mood=Sub, Tense=Past
lexicographic
gained
Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Past
lexicographic
gained
Tense=Past
lexicographic
gains
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
gain'd
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past
archaic
lexicographic
gain'd
Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Past
archaic
lexicographic
gain'd
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
archaic
lexicographic
gain'd
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Past
archaic
lexicographic
gain'd
Number=Plur, Tense=Past
archaic
lexicographic
gain'd
Mood=Sub, Tense=Past
archaic
lexicographic
gaining
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
gaineth
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
archaic
lexicographic
gainest
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres
archaic
lexicographic
Antonyms
lose (antonym(s) of “to run slower than expected”)
te పొందు (acquire) · ga gnóthaigh (acquire) · it guadagnare (put on weight) · bg печеля (acquire) · ru получи́ть (acquire) · lv gūt (acquire) · es conseguir (acquire) · enm winnen (acquire) · nl bekomen (acquire) · ltg turēt (acquire) · grc κερδαίνω (acquire) · ro primi (acquire) · el κερδίζω (acquire) · cmn 聲威 /声威 (acquire) · ltg dabuot (acquire) · es conciliar (acquire) · nl aankomen (put on weight) · ka შეძენა (acquire) · uk отри́мувати (acquire) · rup amintu (acquire) · de gewinnen (acquire) · it aumentare (put on weight) · gl gañar (put on weight) · es ganar (put on weight) · fi hankkia (acquire) · sv ta in (be more likely to catch) · ja 獲得する (acquire) · grc κτάομαι (acquire) · el αποκτώ (acquire) · enm awinnen (acquire) · pl zyskać (acquire) · sv gå upp (put on weight) · lv dabūt (acquire) · hy ստանալ (acquire) · fr gagner (acquire) · ja 増強する (acquire) · ru приобрета́ть (acquire) · hy շահիլ (acquire) · hu elnyer (acquire) · la teneō (acquire) · de erringen (acquire) · es recabar (acquire) · hu gyarapodik (acquire) · ro câștiga (acquire) · it acquisire (acquire) · nl winnen (acquire) · hu szert tesz (acquire) · hu hízik (put on weight) · pl tyć (put on weight) · ia ganiar (acquire) · fi saada (acquire) · eo atingi (reach) · hu kap (acquire) · lv iegūt (acquire) · hu szerez (acquire) · got 𐍆𐌰𐌹𐍂𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽 (acquire) · pl przytyć (put on weight) · ga cuir suas (put on weight) · bg напълнявам (put on weight) · sa लभते (acquire) · sv skaffa (acquire) · es granjear (acquire) · pt ganhar (acquire) · he קיבל (acquire) · gl gañar (acquire) · la lucror (acquire) · sv nå (reach) · hu nyer (acquire) · it mettere su peso (put on weight) · ru получа́ть (acquire) · ga sroich (reach) · ltg pasmeļt (acquire) · ka მიღება (acquire) · es ganar (acquire) · nl verkrijgen (acquire) · ltg apturēt (acquire) · ru приобрести́ (acquire) · ko 얻다 (acquire) · ar كَسَبَ (acquire) · it guadagnare (acquire) · bg придобивам (acquire)
From dialectal English gen, gin, short for again, agen (“against”); also Middle English gain, gayn, gein, ȝæn (“against”), from Old English gēan, geġn (“against”). More at against.
From Middle English gayn, gein, geyn (“straight, direct, short, fit, good”), from Old Norse gegn (“straight, direct, short, ready, serviceable, kindly”), from gegn (“opposite, against”, adverb) (whence gagna (“to go against, meet, suit, be meet”)); see above. Adverb from Middle English gayn, gayne (“fitly, quickly”), from the adjective.
[...] many times his horse and he plunged over the head in deep mires, for he knew not the way, but took the gainest way in that woodness, that many times he was like to perish. 1485 July 14, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter XX, in William Caxton, editor, Le Morte D’Arthur, volume 1:
From Middle English gayn, gein, geyn (“straight, direct, short, fit, good”), from Old Norse gegn (“straight, direct, short, ready, serviceable, kindly”), from gegn (“opposite, against”, adverb) (whence gagna (“to go against, meet, suit, be meet”)); see above. Adverb from Middle English gayn, gayne (“fitly, quickly”), from the adjective.
Meanings
(dialectal, obsolete) Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.
A square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.