picked up steam

USAGE SUMMARY

"picked up steam" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to describe something that has gathered momentum and is gaining strength or gaining further support. For example: "As the weeks passed, the protest movement picked up steam and started to attract more attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Recent protests have picked up steam.

The New York Times

After that, Ms. Ringgold picked up steam.

The New York Times

Compton's economy has picked up steam.

The Guardian

Negotiations for a wider coalition picked up steam.

The New Yorker

"But on the Internet it picked up steam really quickly".

The New York Times - Arts

For all their inertia, things rapidly picked up steam.

The Guardian

Then the reviews started and we picked up steam.

The Guardian

It picked up steam toward the end of the year, validating the market's earlier optimism.

The New York Times

Their feelings for each other picked up steam the next fall semester.

The New York Times

The Clinton administration picked up steam after a disastrous first hundred days.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But as my freelancing career picks up steam, those days are becoming few and far between.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "picked up steam" to describe situations where something initially slow or stagnant begins to gain momentum and make progress. It's effective for describing trends, movements, or projects.

Common error

This phrase is best used for describing abstract concepts, processes, or activities that gain momentum. Using it for physical objects (e.g., "The car picked up steam") may sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "picked up steam" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It describes the process of something gaining momentum or increasing in intensity after a period of slow or stagnant progress. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "picked up steam" is a commonly used idiomatic phrase that effectively describes something gaining momentum or intensity after a slow start. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's most frequently found in News & Media contexts, but also appears in formal and business settings. When using this phrase, it's best to apply it to abstract concepts or processes rather than physical objects. Alternative phrases like ""gained momentum"" or "accelerated" can be used depending on the specific context. Considering its wide usage and clear meaning, "picked up steam" remains a valuable and expressive tool in written and spoken English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gained momentum

Focuses on the increase in driving force or impetus.

gathered pace

Emphasizes acceleration and speed in development.

accelerated rapidly

Highlights a quick and significant increase in speed.

intensified greatly

Concentrates on the increase in strength or degree.

grew stronger

Suggests an increase in power, influence, or effectiveness.

built up speed

Similar to gaining pace, implies a gradual increase in velocity.

became more active

Focuses on the increase in activity or involvement.

progressed swiftly

Emphasizes rapid advancement or development.

escalated quickly

Indicates a rapid increase in intensity or seriousness.

advanced significantly

Focuses on the noteworthy progress or improvement made.

FAQs

What does "picked up steam" mean?

The phrase "picked up steam" means something has begun to gain momentum, speed, or intensity after a slow start. It suggests a gradual increase in progress or activity.

How can I use "picked up steam" in a sentence?

You can use "picked up steam" to describe anything that gains momentum. For example: "The project "gained momentum" after the initial funding was secured".

Which is a more formal alternative to "picked up steam"?

While "picked up steam" is widely acceptable, a more formal alternative could be "gained traction" or "accelerated", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "picked up steam" and "gained traction"?

"Picked up steam" often implies a gradual increase in momentum from a slow start, while "gained traction" suggests that something is becoming more widely accepted or supported.