gained nothing

USAGE SUMMARY

"gained nothing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone did not benefit or make progress. Example: Despite studying for hours, Sarah gained nothing from her exam as she had completely misunderstood the material.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The dopes have gained nothing.

The New York Times

He gained nothing from his opposition.

The Washington Post

They have gained nothing from it".

The Guardian

I gained nothing personally, politically, or professionally from these donations.

The New York Times

"He sacrificed everything and gained nothing," the elder Snowden said.

The Guardian

Steven Finn gained nothing from the sluggish surface.

The Guardian - Sport

Worse, the Islamabad government has gained nothing from it.

The New York Times

Obama gained nothing in the polls during his nearly flawless, arguably triumphant grand tour.

The New Yorker

"I spent half a year doing this business, and I gained nothing".

The New Yorker

On second down, James dived into the line behind right tackle but gained nothing.

The New York Times - Sports

The marines' sacrifice was in vain because, in the end, we gained nothing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gained nothing" to clearly express a lack of benefit, progress, or advantage in situations where effort or investment was expected to yield positive results.

Common error

Avoid using "gained nothing" when a small, insignificant gain was achieved. This phrase is best suited for situations where the expected outcome was substantial, and the actual result was nil.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gained nothing" functions as a predicate indicating the absence of any positive outcome or benefit resulting from an action, effort, or situation. Ludwig provides examples across various contexts to illustrate this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gained nothing" is a versatile expression used to convey the absence of benefit, progress, or positive outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts. The phrase sees frequent use in news and media, as well as in scientific and formal business writing. When aiming for alternatives, consider nuances such as the degree of emphasis on the absence of accomplishment (e.g., "achieved zero") or the focus on financial results (e.g., "realized no profit"). This phrase should be reserved for situations where the expectation of gain was significant, and the actual outcome was negligible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieved zero

Replaces 'nothing' with 'zero', emphasizing the lack of achievement.

obtained no benefit

Replaces 'gained' with 'obtained' and 'nothing' with 'no benefit', focusing on the absence of advantage.

derived no advantage

Uses 'derived' instead of 'gained' and 'advantage' for 'benefit', offering a more formal tone.

realized no profit

Emphasizes the lack of financial or material gain.

yielded no results

Focuses on the absence of outcomes or consequences.

accomplished not a thing

Replaces 'nothing' with a more emphatic 'not a thing', highlighting the complete lack of accomplishment.

profited in no way

Focuses on the absence of any form of profit or advantage.

failed to benefit

Shifts the focus to the failure to receive a benefit.

did not improve

Highlights the absence of any positive change or advancement.

came away empty-handed

An idiomatic expression indicating a failure to obtain anything.

FAQs

How can I use "gained nothing" in a sentence?

You can use "gained nothing" to express that no benefit, progress, or advantage was achieved in a particular situation. For example, "Despite his efforts, he "gained nothing" from the negotiation."

What can I say instead of "gained nothing"?

Alternatives to "gained nothing" include phrases like "achieved zero", "obtained no benefit", or "yielded no results", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "gained nothing" or "achieved nothing"?

Both "gained nothing" and "achieved nothing" are correct, but they emphasize different aspects. "Gained nothing" focuses on the lack of benefit or advantage, while "achieved nothing" focuses on the lack of accomplishment. Choose the phrase that best fits the specific meaning you want to convey.

What's the difference between "gained nothing" and "lost everything"?

"Gained nothing" implies a neutral starting point with no positive outcome, while "lost everything" implies a negative starting point with a complete loss of possessions or status. The former suggests a lack of progress, while the latter suggests a significant regression.