pick up steam
idiom
1
: to become more popular
The idea began to pick up steam around the turn of the century.
2
informal
: to slowly begin to move ahead in a faster and more effective way
The project is slowly picking up steam.
Examples of pick up steam in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Federal Reserve is keeping a close eye on rising prices after a surge in inflation last month ignited a debate over whether price increases will fade, or pick up steam and possibly lead to an overheating economy.
—
Jessica Menton, USA TODAY, 28 May 2021
Gebert claimed that his in-person involvement with the movement began in 2015, around the time that the alt-right started to pick up steam.
—Hannah Gais, The New Republic, 18 May 2021
After an incredibly sluggish start, the vaccination effort in the US is finally starting to pick up steam.
—Yoni Heisler, BGR, 9 Mar. 2021
The housing market is expected to pick up steam in the coming weeks as the historically hectic spring buying season kicks into gear.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2023
Jordan was a teenager as the gay rights movement started to pick up steam.
—Zachary Schermele, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2022
Meanwhile, over in Ann Arbor, Blake Corum’s campaign is starting to pick up steam after his fourth straight 100-yard game.
—Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 17 Oct. 2022
Parallel to the state process, a federal lawsuit filed by state Republican activists in an attempt to bypass the Ohio Supreme Court is starting to pick up steam.
—Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 19 Mar. 2022
Britney's loyal fanbase has regularly maligned the conservatorship since its inception, but the fight to end it intensified across the summer of 2021, when the #FreeBritney digital movement helped the legal case pick up steam.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 14 Jan. 2022
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Jessica Menton, USA TODAY, 28 May 2021
Gebert claimed that his in-person involvement with the movement began in 2015, around the time that the alt-right started to pick up steam.
—Hannah Gais, The New Republic, 18 May 2021
After an incredibly sluggish start, the vaccination effort in the US is finally starting to pick up steam.
—Yoni Heisler, BGR, 9 Mar. 2021
The housing market is expected to pick up steam in the coming weeks as the historically hectic spring buying season kicks into gear.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2023
Jordan was a teenager as the gay rights movement started to pick up steam.
—Zachary Schermele, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2022
Meanwhile, over in Ann Arbor, Blake Corum’s campaign is starting to pick up steam after his fourth straight 100-yard game.
—Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 17 Oct. 2022
Parallel to the state process, a federal lawsuit filed by state Republican activists in an attempt to bypass the Ohio Supreme Court is starting to pick up steam.
—Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 19 Mar. 2022
Britney's loyal fanbase has regularly maligned the conservatorship since its inception, but the fight to end it intensified across the summer of 2021, when the #FreeBritney digital movement helped the legal case pick up steam.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 14 Jan. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pick up steam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pick up steam
Cite this Entry
“Pick up steam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20up%20steam. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.
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