gain

/ɡeɪn/ (bre, ipa) · [ɡˈen] /ɡeɪn/ (ame, ipa) · [ɡˈen] /ˈgān/ (ame, mw)

gain — 動詞

  • gainpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • gains3rd person singular
  • gaining-ing form
  • gainedpast simple

1. to get or obtain something useful or positive, often after some time or effort —

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

獲得；贏得

經努力或時間取得有用之物

to get or obtain something useful or positive, often after some time or effort — such as experience, support, access, or a reputation.

例句

Bao gained valuable experience while working as an intern at the hospital.

Bao 在醫院實習期間獲得了寶貴的經驗。

gain experience — common collocation

The proposal gained support from both parents and teachers at the school board meeting.

該提案在家長和老師中獲得了支持。

gain support — common collocation

同義詞
  • acquire

    slightly more formal; often used for skills or assets

  • obtain

    more formal; focuses on the result of effort

  • earn

    implies deserving through work or merit

反義詞
  • lose

    direct opposite — lose support, lose access

文法句型

gain + something

gain + someone + something

用法筆記

Common with abstract nouns such as 'experience', 'support', 'access', 'confidence', and 'reputation'. Can take two objects: 'His speech gained him the respect of the audience.'

常見錯誤

❌I gained a new phone for my birthday.
✅I received / got a new phone for my birthday.
💡'gain' implies effort or time, not a simple gift.
❌She gained a cold from her classmate.
✅She caught a cold from her classmate.
💡'gain' is not used for negative things like illnesses.

2. when something becomes larger in amount, size, speed, or degree — for example, w

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

增加；增長

在重量、速度、數值上提升

when something becomes larger in amount, size, speed, or degree — for example, when you put on weight, a car goes faster, or a price goes up.

例句

Eli gained three kilograms during the winter holiday and started jogging in March.

Eli 在寒假增加了三公斤，三月份開始慢跑。

gain + weight — transitive, most common pattern

The bicycle gained speed quickly as Salma rode down the long hill.

Salma 騎著腳踏車衝下長坡，速度越來越快。

gain speed — transitive collocation

同義詞
  • increase

    broader; works for almost any measurable change

  • put on

    informal; only for weight

  • grow

    suggests gradual natural development

反義詞
  • lose

    lose weight, lose speed

  • decrease

    more formal opposite for numbers/amounts

文法句型

gain + noun (e.g. weight, speed)

gain in + noun

gain + amount phrase

用法筆記

Use 'put on weight' in informal contexts for body weight; 'gain weight' is neutral. The intransitive pattern 'gain in + noun' works for qualities like confidence, strength, or popularity.

常見錯誤

❌The river gained after the rain.
✅The river rose after the rain.
💡'gain' is not used for water levels rising.
❌My savings gained $500.
✅My savings grew / increased by $500.
💡for money, 'increase' or 'grow' is more natural than 'gain'.

3. when a timekeeping device operates too fast and ends up ahead of the correct tim

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

走快

鐘錶運轉過快，顯示時間偏晚

when a timekeeping device operates too fast and ends up ahead of the correct time — for instance, a watch that shows 9:10 when the real time is only 9:00.

例句

Ayana noticed her bedside clock was gaining about five minutes every week.

Ayana 發現她的床頭鐘每週會快大約五分鐘。

gain + amount of time — describing how much too fast

My watch has gained almost an hour since I dropped it on the kitchen floor.

我的手錶自從掉在廚房地板上之後，已經快了將近一個小時。

present perfect: has gained — result still visible

同義詞
  • run fast

    more descriptive; 'my watch runs fast' is more common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • lose

    a watch loses time when it runs too slowly

  • run slow

    descriptive opposite

文法句型

gain (by + amount of time)

用法筆記

Opposite meaning: a 'losing' clock shows a time that is too early. Only used for timekeeping devices — never for people or processes.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting gained by ten minutes.
✅The meeting ran over by ten minutes.
💡'gain' does not apply to events.

gain — 名詞