Gain vs. Earn

Gain vs. Earn — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Gain and Earn

Gainpreposition

(obsolete) Against.

Earnverb

(transitive) To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.

You can have the s'mores: you earned them, clearing the walkway of snow so well.

Gainadjective

(obsolete) Straight, direct; near; short.

the gainest way

Earnverb

(transitive) To receive payment for work.

He earns seven million dollars a year as CEO.My bank account is only earning one percent interest.

Gainadjective

(obsolete) Suitable; convenient; ready.

Earnverb

(intransitive) To receive payment for work.

Now that you are earning, you can start paying me rent.
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Gainadjective

(dialectal) Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.

Earnverb

(transitive) To cause (someone) to receive payment or reward.

My CD earns me six percent!

Gainadjective

(dialectal) Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap.

Earnverb

(transitive) To achieve by being worthy of.

to earn a spot in the top 20

Gainadverb

(obsolete) Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.

Earnverb

To curdle, as milk.

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Gainadverb

(dialectal) Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.

Earnverb

earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages;

How much do you make a month in your new job?She earns a lot in her new jobthis merger brought in lots of moneyHe clears $5,000 each month

Gainadverb

(dialectal) Tolerably; fairly.

gain quiet (= fairly/pretty quiet)

Earnverb

acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions

Gainnoun

The act of gaining; acquisition.

Gainnoun

What is gained.

Gainnoun

(electronics) The factor by which a signal is multiplied.

Gainnoun

(architecture) A square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.

Gainverb

(transitive) To acquire possession of.

Looks like you've gained a new friend.

Gainverb

(intransitive) To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.

The sick man gains daily.

Gainverb

To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.

to gain a battle; to gain a case at law

Gainverb

(transitive) To increase.

Gainverb

(intransitive) To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual.

I'm gaining (on you).gain ground

Gainverb

(transitive) To reach.

to gain the top of a mountain

Gainverb

To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.

Gainverb

(intransitive) To put on weight.

I've been gaining.

Gainverb

(of a clock or watch) To run fast.

Gainnoun

a quantity that is added;

there was an addition to property taxes this yearthey recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks

Gainnoun

the advantageous quality of being beneficial

Gainnoun

the amount of increase in signal power or voltage or current expressed as the ratio of output to input

Gainnoun

the amount by which the revenue of a business exceeds its cost of operating

Gainverb

obtain;

derive pleasure from one's garden

Gainverb

win something through one's efforts;

I acquired a passing knowledge of ChineseGain an understanding of international finance

Gainverb

derive a benefit from;

She profited from his vast experience

Gainverb

reach a destination, either real or abstract;

We hit Detroit by noonThe water reached the doorstepWe barely made it to the finish lineI have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts

Gainverb

obtain advantages, such as points, etc.;

The home team was gaining groundAfter defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference

Gainverb

rise in rate or price;

The stock market gained 24 points today

Gainverb

increase in;

gain momentumgain nerve

Gainverb

earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages;

How much do you make a month in your new job?She earns a lot in her new jobthis merger brought in lots of moneyHe clears $5,000 each month

Gainverb

increase (one's body weight);

She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising