Momentum
noun /məˈmentəm/ — Growing force or energy as something builds.
Definition
The force or strength gained by motion or progress; the increasing power of a process as it develops.
Beyond the definition
Momentum explains why starting is the hardest part and why quitting mid-way costs more than it appears. Once something has momentum — a project, a habit, a team — it carries itself forward. Losing momentum is the hardest thing to recover from.
Origin & history
From Latin momentum — movement, cause of movement, from movere 'to move'. The force that keeps a moving thing moving.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
After the first week, she felt the momentum building in her study routine.
Don't break momentum on a project unless you have to — restarting from zero costs more.
The campaign gained momentum after the news coverage.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Momentum” when the meaning fits your context: The force or strength gained by motion or progress; the increasing power of a process as it develops.
Synonyms
energy, force, drive, impetus, forward motion
Antonyms
inertia, stagnation, standstill
Related words
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Conductor at Peak Intensity
A conductor stands in the middle of an orchestra, arms and body in an expansive, intense gesture as the music reaches its peak.
The conductor's expansive gesture as the music hits its loudest point represents the force gained by the progress of the composition. The increasing power of the orchestra as the music develops is visible in the energy and command they hold at this peak.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Momentum" mean?
Momentum is noun meaning: Growing force or energy as something builds.. The force or strength gained by motion or progress; the increasing power of a process as it develops.
Where does the word "Momentum" come from?
From Latin momentum — movement, cause of movement, from movere 'to move'. The force that keeps a moving thing moving.