gain

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To get or obtain something useful or valuable.

   Looks like you've gained a new friend.

2. 2
   verb

   To gradually increase in amount or level.

   The peace movement gained momentum.

3. 3
   verb

   To get more body weight.

   They gained twenty pounds when they stopped exercising.

4. 4
   verb

   To rise in value or price.

   The stock market gained 24 points today.

Common collocations

• gain control Verb + noun
• gain experience Verb + noun
• gain power Verb + noun
• gain speed Verb + noun
• gain trust Verb + noun

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”…

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