gain

/ˈgān/

Middle English gain, borrowed from Anglo-French gain, gaigne, gaaing "tillage, winning, profit," derivative of gaainer, gaaigner "to till, secure (profit, advantage)"

noun

  1. resources or advantage acquired or increased : profit

  2. the act or process of acquiring something

  3. an increase in amount, magnitude, or degree

made substantial gains last year

verb

  1. to acquire or get possession of usually by industry, merit, or craft

  2. to win in competition or conflict

  3. to arrive at : reach, attain

gain an advantage

the troops gained enemy territory

idiom

  1. to move faster or work harder in order to come closer to

She was trailing in the race, but she was beginning to gain ground on the leaders.