gaining ground
Closing the gap
Gaining ground means making progress or advancing, especially against resistance or competition.
The image is of forward movement in contested territory: The new theory is gaining ground among scientists.
It can describe ideas spreading, candidates closing gaps in polls, or any situation where something previously behind is catching up.
The opposite is losing ground.
- advancingMoving in forward direction
- making stridesAdvancing considerably toward goals
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- picking up steamIncreasing in momentum
- progressMovement toward improvement
traction · headway · surging · on the rise · upward trend · closing · closing the gap · catching up · neck and neck · coming from behind · rallying · pushing forward · territory · foothold · inroads · breakthrough · climbing · rising
- pursuitchase, chasing, pursuit, chase down, pursue
- gradual progressbaby steps, inching, crawling, creeping, steady growth
- progressprogress, in progress, promotion, raise, making progress
- growthgrowth, grow, growing, growth rate, increase
- finish line expressionsphoto finish, down to the wire, home stretch, final stretch, final lap
- momentumbuilding momentum, gather steam, pick up speed, picking up speed, picking up steam
gaining groundlosing ground
falling behind · slipping back · regressing · backsliding · retreating
gaining groundfalling behind
losing ground · dropping back · giving ground · losing position · lagging behind
gain, ground, gains, gained, gaining, gainer, gainers, gainful, gainfully