gainverb [ I or T ]
uk/ɡeɪn/us/ɡeɪn/gain verb [ I or T ] (GET)
B1 to get something that is useful, that gives you an advantage, or that is in some way positive, especially over a period of time:
C1 If a political party or an idea or belief gains ground, it becomes more popular or accepted:
More examples
- You can't gain access to the computer system without entering your password.
- The whole episode was a blatant attempt to gain publicity.
- He gained a reputation as being a staunch defender of civil rights.
- The pacifist movement is gaining increasing support among young people.
- This policy may appeal to the party faithful, but will it gain the support of uncommitted voters?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Getting, receiving and accepting
- acquihire
- acquire
- acquisition
- awardee
- carve
- draw
- fill
- glom onto sth/sb
- go to sb
- grasp
- obtain
- pick
- pick sth up
- pounce
- score
- secure
- snatch at sth
- target
- wangle
- wrest
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gain verb [ I or T ] (INCREASE)
B1 to increase in weight, speed, height, or amount:
More examples
- The spacecraft will fly round Earth to gain momentum for its trip to Jupiter.
- The rock gains speed as it rolls down the slope.
- The kitchen clock is gaining time.
- He has gained weight since giving up smoking.
- You have gained 20 cm since I last measured you.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Increasing and intensifying
- -ify
- a snowball effect idiom
- accretion
- accumulate
- accumulative
- add fuel to the fire idiom
- balloon
- bump
- dial
- heighten
- hot up
- increase
- increment
- pile
- rack
- speed-up
- spurt
- step
- step sth up
- supersize
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gain verb [ I or T ] (CLOCK/WATCH)
UK If a clock or watch gains, it works too quickly and shows a time that is later than the real time:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Watches & clocks
- 24-hour clock
- against the clock idiom
- alarm clock
- at/on the stroke of sth idiom
- bezel
- clock
- crystal
- hourglass
- lose
- minute hand
- movement
- pendulum
- radio alarm clock
- second hand
- slow
- strike
- watchband
- watchstrap
- winder
- wristwatch
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Phrasal verb(s)
gainnoun [ C or U ]
uk/ɡeɪn/us/ɡeɪn/gain noun [ C or U ] (SOMETHING OBTAINED)
C1 an occasion when you get something useful or positive:
More examples
- Many people get caught in a vicious circle of dieting and weight gain.
- Electricals made big gains in this afternoon's trading on Wall Street.
- The collapse of its rivals brought fortuitous gains to the company.
- The election returns produced a confusing picture of gains and losses.
- The party made modest gains in the elections, but nothing like the huge gains that were predicted.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Getting, receiving and accepting
- acquihire
- acquire
- acquisition
- awardee
- carve
- draw
- fill
- glom onto sth/sb
- go to sb
- grasp
- obtain
- pick
- pick sth up
- pounce
- score
- secure
- snatch at sth
- target
- wangle
- wrest
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gain noun [ C or U ] (INCREASE)
C1 an increase in something such as size, weight, or amount:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming bigger
- accrue
- augment
- billow
- bloat
- broaden
- engorged
- enlarge
- enlargement
- expansion
- extend
- extension
- grow
- oak
- regenerate
- scalability
- scalable
- scaleable
- shoot
- stretch
- supersize
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