gains steam
Picks up speed
To gain steam is to build momentum or gather increasing force, like a steam engine accelerating as pressure builds.
A movement, idea, or campaign gains steam as it attracts more support or energy: The petition gained steam after celebrities endorsed it.
Her candidacy is gaining steam in the polls.
- vigorActive physical strength
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- crescendoGradual increase in loudness
- expansionIncrease in scope
picks up speed · surge · rallying · propulsion · forward motion · snowballing · snowball effect · evolution · ignition · dynamism · proliferation · escalation · velocity · building momentum · progression · trajectory · flourishing · power
momentum and progress
gains steamslows down
Reduces velocity progressively
stalls · stalls out · grinds to a halt · peters out · runs out of gas
gain, gains, gained, gaining, gainer, gainers, gainful, gainfully, steam