What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
achieve
Example
She achieved her dream of becoming a doctor. [achieved: past tense]
Example
The team worked hard to achieve their sales target for the quarter. [achieve: verb]
gain
Example
He gained a lot of knowledge from reading books. [gained: past tense]
Example
The company gained a competitive edge by introducing new technology. [gain: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Gain is more commonly used than achieve in everyday language. Gain is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while achieve is less common and often used in more formal or professional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between achieve and gain?
While achieve is typically associated with a more formal or professional tone, gain is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
