gain

present singular third person gains · participle present gaining · participle past gained · past gained · first person past singular gained · archaic first person past singular gain'd · archaic present second person singular gainest · past second person singular gained · archaic past second person singular gainedst · archaic past second person singular gain'd · present singular third person gains · archaic present singular third person gaineth · past singular third person gained · archaic past singular third person gain'd · past plural gained · archaic past plural gain'd

1. transitiveTo acquire possession of.

   Looks like you’ve gained a new friend.

   2 more examples

   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

   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

2. intransitiveTo have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.

   The sick man gains daily.

   1 more example

   Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezekiel 22:12

3. datedtransitiveTo come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.

   to gain a battle; to gain a case at law

4. transitiveTo 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

5. intransitiveoftenwith onTo grow more likely to catch or overtake someone.

   to gain ground

   1 more example

   I’m gaining (on you).

6. transitiveTo reach.

   to gain the top of a mountain

   1 more example

   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

7. 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

   1 more example

   If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 18:15

8. intransitiveTo put on weight.

   I’ve been gaining.

   1 more example

   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)

9. ambitransitivedatedTo run fast, often by a specified amount.

   Don't rely on that clock: it gains.

   1 more example

   "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 [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

plural gains

1. countableuncountableThe act of gaining; acquisition.

   People are more willing to take a risk to avoid a loss than to make a gain.

   3 more examples

   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

   the lust of gain, in the spirit of Cain

   1855, Alfred Tennyson, Maude

   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

2. countableuncountableThe 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]

3. countableuncountablebusinessThe 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

1. obsoleteAgainst.

comparative more gain · superlative most gain

1. dialectalobsoleteStraight, direct; near; short.

   the gainest way

   1 more example

   [...] 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 28, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter XX, in William Caxton, editor, Le Morte D’Arthur, volume 1

2. dialectalobsoleteSuitable; convenient; ready.
3. dialectalEasy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.
4. dialectalHonest; respectable; moderate; cheap.

comparative more gain · superlative most gain

1. dialectalobsoleteStraightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.
2. dialectalSuitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.
3. dialectalTolerably; fairly.

   gain quiet

   fairly/pretty quiet

plural gains

1. architectureA 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.

plural Gains

1. A surname.