gains
English meaning: Gains
Definition
The act of gaining; acquisition.
Example
“The company reported strong gains in its overseas markets this quarter.”
Another example: “After months of training, his hard-won muscle gains were finally visible.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Plural noun used in finance, fitness, and general contexts to mean increases or profits. Very common in business ('capital gains') and exercise ('muscle gains', often informal). Often paired with 'losses' as its opposite.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'gaaignier' (to earn, win, cultivate), of Germanic origin, entering English in the 1400s.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- capital gains
- make gains
- gains and losses
- significant gains
- net gains
Word Forms
gain (n, sing.); gains (pl.); gain (v); gained; gaining
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B