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Definition of momentum noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

momentum

noun
 
/məˈmentəm/
 
/məʊˈmentəm/
[uncountable]
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  1. the ability to keep increasing or developing
    • The fight for his release gathers momentum each day.
    • They began to lose momentum in the second half of the game.
    Extra Examples
    • She gave fresh momentum to the campaign.
    • The campaign for change now has considerable momentum.
    • The team has lost momentum in recent weeks.
    • Their momentum has gone, and they feel they cannot fight any longer.
    • There is plenty of political momentum behind the proposed changes.
    • There's no forward momentum in the movie.
    • We have to keep the momentum of our sales operation going.
    • We must keep up the momentum for reform.
    • keeping up the momentum for growth
    • the irresistible momentum towards reunification of the two countries
    • The momentum of this success carried the party to victory in the elections.
    • The programme developed a momentum of its own.
    • This deal adds fresh momentum to plans for a new rail link.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • great
    • tremendous
    verb + momentum
    • have
    • build up
    • gain
    momentum + verb
    • build up
    • increase
    • carry somebody/​something
    preposition
    • momentum for
    • momentum towards/​toward
    phrases
    • keep the momentum going
    See full entry
  2. a force that is gained by movement
    • The vehicle gained momentum as the road dipped.
    • The car gathered momentum as it rolled down the hill.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • great
    • tremendous
    verb + momentum
    • have
    • build up
    • gain
    momentum + verb
    • build up
    • increase
    • carry somebody/​something
    preposition
    • momentum for
    • momentum towards/​toward
    phrases
    • keep the momentum going
    See full entry
  3. (specialist) the quantity of movement of a moving object, measured as its mass multiplied by its speedTopics Physics and chemistryc2
  4. Word Originlate 17th cent.: from Latin, from movimentum, from movere ‘to move’.
See momentum in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee momentum in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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