(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If a person or place ~s something such as an ability or quality, they gradually get more of it.
Students can ~ valuable experience by working on the campus radio or magazine...
While it has lost its tranquility, the area has ~ed in liveliness.
VERB: V n, V in n
2.
If you ~ from something such as an event or situation, you get some advantage or benefit from it.
The company didn’t disclose how much it expects to ~ from the two deals...
There is absolutely nothing to be ~ed by feeling bitter...
It is sad that a major company should try to ~ from other people’s suffering.
VERB: V n from/by n/-ing, V n from/by n/-ing, V from n
3.
To ~ something such as weight or speed means to have an increase in that particular thing.
Some people do ~ weight after they stop smoking...
She ~ed some 25lb in weight during her pregnancy.
? lose
VERB: V n, V amount
•
Gain is also a noun.
Excessive weight ~ doesn’t do you any good.
= increase
N-VAR: usu with supp
4.
If you ~ something, you obtain it, especially after a lot of hard work or effort.
They realise that passing exams is no longer enough to ~ a place at university...
= obtain
VERB: V n
5.
If you do something for ~, you do it in order to get some advantage or profit for yourself, and for no other reason. (FORMAL)
...buying art solely for financial ~.
PHRASE: PHR after v disapproval
6.
If something such as an idea or an ideal ~s ground, it gradually becomes more widely known or more popular.
The Christian right has been steadily ~ing ground in state politics.
PHRASE: V inflects
7.
If you do something in order to ~ time, you do it in order to give yourself enough time to think of an excuse or a way out of a difficult situation.
...I hoped to ~ time by keeping him talking.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR to-inf