noun Internet Slang

Gains

/ɡeɪnz/ · noun · slang

The muscle and strength you build from lifting — the whole point of going to the gym.

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Definitions

1

Muscle mass and strength added through training and diet. The catch-all word gym people use for visible progress.

“Six months of squats and the leg gains are finally showing.”
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2

More loosely, any kind of progress or winnings outside the gym, borrowed from the gym sense.

“Closed three deals today, big gains.”
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3

Used as a near-mystical thing you protect — skipping a workout or eating bad is 'losing your gains'.

“Can't go out drinking tonight, I'm protecting the gains.”
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Gains In A Sentence

Bro asked if I even lift, then saw the gains and went quiet.
RIP my gains, I've been off training for a month with a busted shoulder.
New PR on bench, the gains are gaining.

Origin & Usage

Bodybuilding and weightlifting slang that went mainstream through fitness forums like Bodybuilding.com in the 2000s and exploded as a meme via the 'do you even lift' culture of the 2010s.

People Also Ask

What do gains mean in gym slang?

Gains are the muscle and strength you build from training. 'Making gains' means your body is visibly getting bigger or stronger.

Why do people spell it 'gainz'?

The 'z' spelling is a jokey gym-bro affectation that started on fitness forums and stuck as a meme. It means the exact same thing as gains.

What is 'protecting your gains'?

It's the half-serious idea that missing workouts, dieting wrong, or partying too hard will make you lose muscle, so you guard your routine.

Can gains mean something outside the gym?

Yes. People now say 'gains' for any win or progress — money, skills, anything — borrowing the gym word.

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