momentum

momentum
mo‧men‧tum /məʊˈmentəm, mə- $ moʊ-, mə-/ noun [uncountable]1. the ability to keep increasing, developing, or being more successful
    gain/gather momentum
    The campaign for reform should start to gather momentum in the new year.
    incentives to maintain the momentum of European integration
    Governments often lose momentum in their second term of office.
    momentum of
    the momentum of increasing immigration
    momentum towards
    the momentum towards economic union
2. the force that makes a moving object keep moving
    gain/gather momentum (=move faster)
    The wheel was allowed to roll down the slope, gathering momentum as it went.
    Pratt, without losing any momentum at all, passed them both and won the race.
3. technical the force or power that is contained in a moving object and is calculated by multiplying its weight by its speed
    momentum of
    the momentum of a particle
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ gain/gather/build up momentum (=become more and more successful) The show gathered momentum over the next few months and became a huge hit.
   ▪ give something momentum (=make something become more successsful) The agreement was small, but it gave new momentum to the talks.
   ▪ maintain momentum (=make something continue at the same pace) The party was determined to maintain the momentum of reform.
   ▪ lose momentum (=to start to become less successful) The team seems to have lost its momentum.
   ▪ keep the momentum going (also sustain the momentum formal) (=keep being successful) Hopefully we can keep the momentum going and win the next game as well.
■ adjectives
   ▪ irresistible (=that cannot be stopped) The social changes began to gather irresistible momentum.