gather steam

gather steam (third-person singular simple present gathers steam, present participle gathering steam, simple past and past participle gathered steam)

1. (intransitive, informal) To increase in strength, popularity, or energy.

   Synonyms: gain steam, pick up steam

   • 2022 October 23, Pamela Paul, “Let’s Say Gay”, in The New York Times‎:

     He went on, “Like the term ‘Latinx,’ ‘queer’ was started by some humanities professor and slowly gathered steam. Then well-meaning radio producers and magazine editors thought, ‘Well, I guess that’s what they want to be called now!’ But I don’t remember any vote being taken.”

• “gain/gather steam”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.