losing impetus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "losing impetus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where progress or momentum is diminishing or slowing down. Example: "The project was initially gaining traction, but it has been losing impetus in recent weeks due to lack of funding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He has not brought the country with him on Syria; he delivered a lacklustre speech in the debate and it increasingly appears that he is losing impetus on his EU renegotiation talks.

The Guardian

For example, the drive for conformity can be traced at least to the Council of Trent, whose final sessions were in 1563; but it was visibly losing impetus, despite Louis XIV's intolerant policy leading to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685), after the Peace of Westphalia.

Britannica

This was overtaken by UK prime minister Theresa May calling the June 2017 UK general election, which resulted in the SNP winning the most votes and seats in Scotland, but losing impetus with the loss of 21 of 56 Westminster seats.

The Guardian - Opinion

And if Myanmar's 'experiment' with democracy proves to be a failure, all the progress that has been made could be lost, with the military reassuming control of the government and other democratic movements in the region losing impetus as a result.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A state-backed plan to crunch them together seems to have lost impetus.

The New York Times

It was only when he was peripheral that England lost impetus.

The Guardian - Sport

When the event was over, Anthony and I worried that we had lost impetus.

The Guardian - Opinion

By the finale, there were doubts about the architecture of the reading, which lost impetus at times.

The Guardian - Music

The sluggishness of European economies is no surprise to anyone; America also seems to have lost impetus after an encouraging start to the year.

The Economist

Last Thursday's announcement abolishing the subsidies brought thousands of people onto the streets of Bucharest for four days running, but the protest lost impetus Monday when only a few hundred people gathered at University Square.

The New York Times

In 2014 there was utter frustration at Ponferrada in Spain, when she looked set for victory going into the final kilometre, until her lead group lost impetus and was overtaken within sight of the line.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a project or initiative, use "losing impetus" to highlight a concerning trend of declining momentum. This conveys a sense of urgency to address the underlying causes.

Common error

Avoid using "losing impetus" simply because initial results weren't sustained; ensure there's a clear indication of declining force over time, not just failure to meet original high expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "losing impetus" functions as a verb phrase, typically used within a larger sentence to describe the state of something that is declining in its ability to progress or maintain momentum. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates a reduction in driving force.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "losing impetus" accurately describes a decline in momentum or driving force, suitable for neutral to professional contexts. Although it's grammatically correct and understandable, as Ludwig AI confirms, it's not as common as alternatives like "losing momentum". Predominantly found in news and media sources, it conveys a sense of concern about diminishing progress. To maintain clarity, ensure the context clearly indicates a reduction in force over time, rather than just a failure to meet initial expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

losing momentum

Similar to the original phrase, but focuses specifically on the loss of forward movement.

waning momentum

This alternative highlights the decreasing strength of the driving force.

declining drive

This alternative emphasizes the diminishing motivation or ambition.

fading energy

This suggests a decrease in the vigor or enthusiasm behind an action.

slackening pace

This alternative focuses on the reduction in speed or rate of progress.

petering out

This implies a gradual decrease to the point of near or complete cessation.

diminishing force

This phrase conveys a weakening of the power or strength.

stalling progress

This indicates a halt or significant slowdown in advancement.

slowing down

A more general term indicating a reduction in speed or activity.

grinding to a halt

Suggests a very slow and difficult deceleration, eventually stopping completely.

FAQs

What does "losing impetus" mean?

The phrase "losing impetus" means that something is losing the force or energy that was driving it forward, causing it to slow down or stall.

How can I use "losing impetus" in a sentence?

You might say, "The campaign was initially successful, but it is now "losing impetus" due to lack of funding".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "losing impetus"?

Alternatives include "losing momentum", "waning momentum", or "declining drive", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "lost impetus" or "losing impetus"?

Both "lost impetus" and "losing impetus" are correct, but they describe different states. "Lost impetus" suggests the momentum is already gone, while "losing impetus" indicates that the momentum is currently decreasing.