Gain
Charts that slope upward, petitions that cross a lakh overnight, and freshmen who stop fearing the mess food all share this verb of gradual increase.
Learn This WordMeaning
To obtain or increase something gradually.
Memory trick
GAIN sounds like again and again: small wins repeated until they add up.
Examples
The policy gained momentum quickly.
Her startup gained ground after the festival feature went live.
He gained ten kilos of evidence, not weight: every folder on his desk was a filed RTI reply.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Old French gaaignier "to earn, win," of Germanic origin. Originally about earned winnings, now any gradual increase.
Usage Notes
Trend language for Describe Image and essays: gain momentum, gain ground. When a chart rises, gain is the verb reaching for it.
Real-life contexts
Use for trends: "Electric scooters are gaining ground in our colony."
Use for skills: "I gained confidence after the first mock."
Use for support: "The petition gained signatures overnight."
Common Mistakes
Gain implies gradual increase; do not use it for sudden jumps (use surge or spike). "Gain momentum" is the classic collocation.
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Part of Speech
verb
Difficulty
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