gaingain1 /geɪn/ verb1[transitiveT] to get or achieve something important or valuable, usually by working very hardWe hope togain a largershare of the local market.
BP America shared the knowledge gained from the disaster with other oil companies.
2[intransitiveI, transitiveT] to gradually get more of a useful or valuable quality, skill etcDonald gained a lot of usefulexperience when he was working for a merchant bank.
Employees will gain in knowledge and confidence by making full use of the training opportunities.
3[intransitiveI, transitiveT]FINANCE to increase in value or amountStandard & Poor’s 500-stock index gained slightly, closing up 3.75 points.
Production in both China and India gained while domestic consumption slowed.
For the week, the Dow industrials gained 39.85 points.
4gain groundFINANCE if a currency, share, or financial market gains ground, it increases in valueThe stock market gained ground after two days of losses.
gain ground againstThe dollar gained ground against (=compared to) foreign currencies.
5gain ground to gradually become more popular, successful etcThe retailer has gained ground, with sales up 12.2%.
gain ground against/onAluminium has been gaining ground against (=compared to) more traditional metals.
GM’s trucks are gaining ground on Ford’s F series.
6[intransitiveI, transitiveT]COMMERCE to get an advantage from a situation, opportunity, or eventSome countries depreciated their currencies so as to gain a competitive advantage over their trading rivals.
gain (something) from somethingMalaysia has not always gained greatly from the sales of assets such as shares in its airline.
People with higher incomes clearly gained more from the tax cuts.
The management group owns about 18% of the stock and would stand to gain millions of dollars if the company were sold.
7gain a footholdCOMMERCE to reach a position from which you can start to make progress and achieve your aimsEuropean television groups will be ready to pay substantial amounts to gain a foothold in the UK market.
8gain currency to become more popularThe new idea was gaining currency.
9gain access to somethingCOMMERCE if a country or company gains access to a place, it is able to sell its products there for the first timeThe government’s aim is to help US companies gain access to foreign markets.
US computer makers have accused the Japanese of selling machines at steep discounts to gain access to markets where they are not competitive.
10gain access to something to manage to use something, especially something that is difficult to obtainThe program allows a hacker to secretly gain access to computer systems.
11gain approval if a plan, proposal etc gains approval, it is officially acceptedThe company did not gain approval from the planning commission for the new building.
12gain in popularity become more popularInsurance-funded plans are gaining in popularity because they are not subject to tax.