Explanation at your level:
When you gain something, you get it. If you have a book, you gain knowledge. If you eat a lot, you gain weight. It is like adding to your pile of things. You want to gain good things in your life!
We use gain to talk about getting something useful. You can gain an advantage in a game. You can also gain speed when you run. It means to get more of something over time. It is a very common word in school and work.
In intermediate English, gain is often used for abstract concepts. You gain experience through practice. You gain respect by being honest. It implies a process of development. It is slightly more formal than the word 'get', so use it when you want to sound a bit more professional.
At this level, gain is frequently used in collocations like 'gain access' or 'gain control'. It carries nuance regarding effort; you usually gain something through hard work or specific circumstances. It distinguishes itself from 'obtain' by focusing on the result of a process rather than just the act of receiving.
Advanced users employ gain to describe strategic advantages or incremental shifts. It is common in academic and journalistic writing, such as 'gaining traction' or 'gaining leverage'. It suggests a deliberate movement toward a goal. The word can also imply a competitive edge, where one person's gain is another's loss.
At the mastery level, gain can be used in more figurative and literary contexts. It might describe an internal transformation, such as 'gaining perspective' on a tragic event. It is also used in technical fields to describe electronic signal amplification or economic growth metrics. The etymological connection to 'harvesting' remains a subtle undertone in how we 'reap the gains' of our labor.
30초 단어
- Gain means to obtain or increase.
- It is a regular verb (gained).
- Commonly used with nouns like 'experience' or 'weight'.
- It has a formal tone compared to 'get'.
When you gain something, you are essentially adding it to your life or your collection. Think of it as a positive change where you end up with more than you started with.
You can gain abstract things like knowledge, confidence, or experience. You can also gain physical things like weight, speed, or money. It is a very versatile word that focuses on the process of acquisition or growth.
The word gain has a fascinating history. It comes from the Old French word gaaigner, which originally meant to work the land or to farm. It is related to the Old North French gaaign, meaning 'booty' or 'profit'.
Over centuries, the meaning shifted from the physical act of farming to the broader concept of earning or winning something. It shares roots with the Germanic word weidanjan, which is also linked to the word widen or hunt. It's cool to think that 'gaining' something was once tied to the hard work of harvesting crops!
In daily life, gain is used in both casual and professional settings. You might say, 'I hope to gain experience from this internship,' which sounds professional and ambitious.
In a more casual sense, you might hear, 'I think I'm gaining weight,' which is a common way to talk about physical changes. The word is very flexible, but it almost always carries a sense of forward movement or accumulation.
Idioms make language colorful! Here are five common ones:
- Gain ground: To make progress. 'Our team is finally gaining ground in the competition.'
- Nothing to gain: Having no advantage. 'I have nothing to gain by lying to you.'
- Gain the upper hand: To get an advantage. 'She gained the upper hand during the negotiation.'
- Gain momentum: To start moving faster. 'The protest movement is gaining momentum.'
- Gain an insight: To understand something better. 'I gained some insights into how the engine works.'
Gain is a regular verb. Its past tense and past participle form is gained, and its present participle is gaining.
Pronunciation-wise, it rhymes with rain, pain, main, train, and brain. The 'ai' vowel sound is a long /eɪ/. It is a single-syllable word, so keep the stress sharp and clear!
Fun Fact
It was originally a farming term!
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'a' sound like in 'day'.
Crisp long 'a' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'gen'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Muffling the 'n' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand in context
Useful for formal writing
Common in daily speech
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
I gained a point.
Gerunds
Gaining experience is key.
Past Tense Regular
I gained it yesterday.
Examples by Level
I want to gain knowledge.
I want to get knowledge.
Verb + noun.
He gained a new friend.
He made a new friend.
Past tense.
I gain points in the game.
I get points.
Simple present.
She gains weight.
She gets heavier.
Third person singular.
We gain time.
We get more time.
Verb + noun.
They gain speed.
They go faster.
Verb + noun.
You gain a prize.
You win a prize.
Verb + noun.
I gain a skill.
I learn to do something.
Verb + noun.
He gained confidence after the speech.
The car gained speed on the highway.
I hope to gain experience.
She gained a lot of fans.
We gain nothing by waiting.
The team gained a big advantage.
He gained a new perspective.
They gained entry to the club.
The company gained a foothold in the market.
She gained admission to the university.
He gained control of the situation.
They are gaining ground in the debate.
I gained a lot of insight from the book.
The movement is gaining momentum.
We gained access to the private files.
He gained notoriety for his pranks.
The policy gained widespread support.
She gained the upper hand in the argument.
The project is gaining traction.
He gained an advantage by being early.
They gained a reputation for excellence.
The stock market gained value today.
She gained clarity on her goals.
He gained a promotion after his hard work.
The candidate gained leverage through the negotiation.
The theory gained currency among scholars.
He gained an audience with the king.
The industry gained a competitive edge.
She gained mastery over the instrument.
The proposal gained approval from the board.
They gained a deeper understanding of the issue.
The region gained autonomy last year.
The artist gained acclaim for her bold style.
He gained solace from the quiet surroundings.
The narrative gained depth as it progressed.
The movement gained impetus from the protest.
She gained ascendancy in the political sphere.
The argument gained weight with new evidence.
The company gained parity with its rivals.
He gained wisdom through his many travels.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"gain ground"
make progress
We are gaining ground on the research.
neutral"gain the upper hand"
get an advantage
He gained the upper hand in the fight.
neutral"nothing to gain"
no benefit
There is nothing to gain by arguing.
neutral"gain momentum"
start moving faster
The campaign is gaining momentum.
neutral"gain an audience"
get a chance to speak
She gained an audience with the director.
formal"gain a foothold"
establish a position
The new brand gained a foothold in the city.
neutralEasily Confused
both mean to obtain
get is very casual, gain is more specific
I got a gift vs I gained experience.
both imply success
win is for competitions, gain is for growth
I won the race vs I gained confidence.
both mean to acquire
earn implies you deserved it
I earned my salary vs I gained weight.
both mean to reach
attain is for high goals
I attained my goal.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + gain + noun
He gained a promotion.
Subject + gain + in + noun
She gained in confidence.
Subject + gain + adj + noun
They gained a competitive advantage.
Subject + gain + access + to
I gained access to the room.
Subject + gain + ground
The idea is gaining ground.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
Gain is a transitive verb, it doesn't need 'to' before the object.
Gain already implies an increase, so 'more' is often redundant.
We usually use 'achieve' with success.
Avoid using 'of' after the gerund unless necessary.
We say 'gain in confidence' or 'gain in popularity'.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a scale that keeps tipping up as you add 'gains' to it.
When Native Speakers Use It
We use it for progress and physical increases.
Cultural Insight
Often used in self-improvement contexts.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a transitive verb, so it needs an object.
Say It Right
Focus on the long 'a' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't add 'to' after the verb.
Did You Know?
It started as a farming word!
Study Smart
Learn it with its collocations like 'gain ground'.
Register Check
Use 'gain' instead of 'get' in essays.
Rhyme Time
Rhyming helps you remember the vowel sound.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
G-A-I-N: Get A Important New-thing.
Visual Association
A person climbing a mountain and reaching the top.
Word Web
챌린지
Write three things you want to gain this year.
어원
Old French
Original meaning: To work the land or harvest
문화적 맥락
None
Used frequently in business and health contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- gain experience
- gain approval
- gain a promotion
at the gym
- gain weight
- gain muscle
- gain strength
in business
- gain market share
- gain a foothold
- gain leverage
in school
- gain knowledge
- gain insight
- gain skills
Conversation Starters
"What is something you hope to gain this year?"
"Have you ever gained a lot of knowledge from a single book?"
"Do you think it's hard to gain weight?"
"What is the best way to gain someone's trust?"
"How do companies gain an advantage over competitors?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you gained a new perspective.
Describe a skill you worked hard to gain.
What are you trying to gain in your current career?
Reflect on a time you gained something after a struggle.
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문Usually, but you can gain weight or gain notoriety, which might be negative.
Yes, 'capital gains' is a common financial term.
Not always. You win a prize, but you gain experience.
Gained.
No, that is grammatically incorrect.
Yes, it can be a noun (e.g., 'a significant gain').
Like 'rain'.
It is neutral and fits most contexts.
셀프 테스트
I want to ___ a new skill.
Gain means to get something.
Which means to get faster?
Gain speed is the correct collocation.
You gain ground when you lose a game.
Gain ground means to make progress.
Word
뜻
Matching phrases to meanings.
The team gained a advantage - wait, 'an' advantage.
The company is ___ traction in the market.
Gaining traction is a common phrase.
What does 'gain currency' mean?
Gain currency means to become accepted or popular.
Gainful employment means a job that pays well.
Gainful means profitable.
After the crisis, the movement ___ ascendancy.
Gained ascendancy means rose to power.
Which word is an antonym for gain?
Forfeit means to lose something as a penalty.
점수: /10
Summary
To gain is to grow or acquire something of value through effort or time.
- Gain means to obtain or increase.
- It is a regular verb (gained).
- Commonly used with nouns like 'experience' or 'weight'.
- It has a formal tone compared to 'get'.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a scale that keeps tipping up as you add 'gains' to it.
When Native Speakers Use It
We use it for progress and physical increases.
Cultural Insight
Often used in self-improvement contexts.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a transitive verb, so it needs an object.
예시
I gained five pounds during my vacation because I ate so much good food.
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