Phrase guide

gain ground

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make progress or obtain advantage; to gain traction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • No matter how hard I try, I don't seem to be gaining ground.
  • Team Red has gained ground on Team Blue since October.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gain momentum, gain traction, pick up

Antonyms: give ground, lose ground

2

verb

Meaning 2

obtain advantages, such as points, etc.

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The home team was gaining ground
  • After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gain, advance, win, pull ahead, make headway, get ahead

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: steal, score, hit, tally, rack up

History

Etymology

Metaphor, suggesting e.g. military acquisition of territory.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: terrein winnen — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Finnish: saada jalansijaa — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Finnish: vallata alaa — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Finnish: menestyä — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • French: gagner du terrain — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • German: Boden gewinnen — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • German: an Boden gewinnen — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Greek: κερδίζω έδαφος (kerdízo édafos) — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Hungarian: teret hódít — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Hungarian: tért hódít — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Hungarian: teret nyer — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Hungarian: erősödik — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Hungarian: felzárkózik — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Italian: guadagnare terreno — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Kannada: ಬಲಗೊಳ್ಳು (balagoḷḷu) — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Kannada: ಪ್ರಭಾವ ಬೆಳೆಸು (prabhāva beḷesu) — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Kannada: ಪ್ರಾಬಲ್ಯ ಹೊಂದು (prābalya hondu) — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Māori: āhukahuka — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Māori: kāhukahuka — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Polish: robić postępy — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Polish: zrobić postępy — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Romanian: câștiga teren — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Russian: преуспевать (preuspevatʹ) — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Russian: расти (rasti) — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Spanish: ganar terreno — to make progress or obtain advantage
  • Spanish: coger impulso — to make progress or obtain advantage