gain
To obtain something useful or wanted, such as knowledge, experience, or an advantage. It also means to increase in size, weight, amount, or speed over time.
Examples
3 of 5I gained five pounds during my vacation because I ate so much good food.
I increased my body weight by five pounds during my holiday because I ate many delicious meals.
The organization has gained international recognition for its environmental work.
The organization has obtained global fame for its work regarding the environment.
What do you think you'll gain by staying up so late?
What benefit do you think you will get by not going to sleep until late?
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Gain' in a video game—when you level up, you 'gain' new powers or points.
Quick Quiz
By volunteering at the hospital, Sarah hopes to ______ more experience in the medical field.
Correct!
The correct answer is: gain
Examples
I gained five pounds during my vacation because I ate so much good food.
everydayI increased my body weight by five pounds during my holiday because I ate many delicious meals.
The organization has gained international recognition for its environmental work.
formalThe organization has obtained global fame for its work regarding the environment.
What do you think you'll gain by staying up so late?
informalWhat benefit do you think you will get by not going to sleep until late?
Students gain a deeper understanding of history through primary source documents.
academicStudents obtain a better knowledge of history by looking at original documents.
Our firm is working hard to gain a larger share of the European market.
businessOur company is putting in effort to obtain more customers in the European market.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
no pain, no gain
you must work hard and suffer a little to achieve something
gain ground
to make progress or become more popular
nothing ventured, nothing gained
if you don't take a risk, you won't achieve anything
Often Confused With
'Win' is used for competitions or prizes; 'gain' is for gradual increases or obtaining useful qualities like experience.
'Earn' is specifically used for getting money or respect through hard work; 'gain' is more general for any increase or acquisition.
Usage Notes
Gain is frequently used with abstract nouns like 'insight', 'knowledge', or 'support', as well as physical measurements like 'weight' or 'speed'.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'win experience' or 'win weight' instead of the correct collocation 'gain experience' or 'gain weight'.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Gain' in a video game—when you level up, you 'gain' new powers or points.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French word 'gaaignier', which meant to earn, profit, or cultivate land.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In modern fitness culture, 'gains' (noun) is slang for muscle growth achieved through exercise.
Quick Quiz
By volunteering at the hospital, Sarah hopes to ______ more experience in the medical field.
Correct!
The correct answer is: gain
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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