We all have heard about gaining ground, but it’s not always clear what people are referring to when they say it. This article goes over a few of the meanings of this phrase and more details on how to properly use it.
“Gain Ground” has several meanings. Depending on the context, it can mean acceptance or advantage. This phrase can mean making some type of progress or getting an advantage on something. It can also mean becoming more popular, powerful, or winning acceptance.
Depending on the context, you will know which one you should use. Its uses are not for military or strategy environments only. “Gain ground” could also be used in business, marketing, sports, and even games.
Continue reading to learn more about the uses of this phrase. At the end of this article, we share a little bit about a book and a videogame named “Gain Ground.”
Origin
Gaining ground has no explicit origin, but one theory about its origin involves historical events.
The use of “gain ground” dates back to the 1700s. Military troops used it to explain they were making progress. Also, to refer, they were obtaining their opponent’s territory. Nowadays, it is used in another context when talking about strategy.
How People Use “Gain Ground.”
People often use this phrase in tactic conversations and politics. Most likely, people in politics will use it to refer to gaining an advantage over their opponent. It also could be used to say they are becoming more popular.
The use in military vocabulary refers to them gaining an advantage and occupying the enemy’s territory. “Gain ground” could also be used in business, sports, and competitions.
These days fewer people are using this term on a day-by-day basis.
Examples
- The Republicans gained ground fast in 2016.
- As the business gained ground, the staff had to grow faster than usual.
- The start-up has been gaining ground over its competition in the last quarter.
- The new democrat candidate is gaining ground in the latest polls.
- The trend began in the United States and rapidly gained ground in the rest of the world thanks to social media.
- The video game NBA2K21 gained ground even faster. This was because they release the commercial with the phrase “momma a big stepper.”
- The movement gained ground in the young population. This was thanks to the modern approach the candidate for president had.
- Bitcoin was gaining ground in the last years against other cryptocurrencies.
- As the persecution proceeded, the police rapidly gained ground on the suspects. It took them an hour to finally arrest them.
- I want to thank the team for the effort put into developing and realizing this video game faster than ever. This effort helped us to gain ground over other video game developers. And I am happy to announce that now we are in first place in the best games of 2021.
- The internet is gaining ground through the years. More applications and websites are being developed. This is to the point of getting artificial intelligence inside everyone’s pocket.
- As he kept running, he was getting more scared by the minute. His pursuer was gaining ground on him faster than he could run.
- The patient started to gain ground as soon as she made an effort on her therapy.
- The Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer gained ground over other manufacturer’s vaccines.
- There is no doubt Coca-Cola gained ground over Pepsi. This might be because of the ads and commercials that are a little more inclusive than the ones from Pepsi.
- By the time I start my bakery business, it will be really hard to gain ground. But I believe that with hard work and a high quality product, I could take some advantage in no time.
- Parents are concerned about new trends on social media gaining ground. Most of them might put their kids in danger.
- As years go by, women are gaining ground over men in the culinary world.
- Before the battle of Culloden, a British army was gaining ground over the Jacobites and France. It was in this battle that secured the victory of Great Britain over Scotland.
- It is important for new companies to try to gain ground over the competition to secure their growth.
- Lewis Hamilton gained ground rapidly over his opponents in the last race.
Uses In The Press About Politics
“Other observers think Islamist extremists are provoking unrest in an attempt to gain political ground.” – The New York Times.
“The People of Liberty, the largest party supporting Mr. Monti’s government in Parliament, believes that its former leader, Silvio Berlusconi, was swept out of office by market forces, not traditional democratic processes, and in recent weeks has attempted to gain political ground by capturing Italian discontent at the austerity measures.” – The New York Times.
“Under the leadership of Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right National Front party is gaining political ground with its anti-immigration platform.” – Huffington Post.
Synonyms
There are some words and phrases that could be used instead of gain ground, but they do not have the same impact.
- Get ahead
- Make progress
- Advance
- Proceed
- Get on
- Move
- Make headway
- Make up for lost time
- Press forward
- Proceed forward
- Pick up speed
- Push on
- Go forward
- Push ahead
- Move up
- Go places
- Go great guns
Antonyms
Like many other phrases, “gain ground” has a few idioms or words to express the opposite of its meaning. These phrases mean moving back or moving away.
- Lose ground
- Back down
- Give ground
- Give away
- Recoil
- Chicken out
- Disengage
- Leave
- Quit
- Pull away
- Abandon
- Evacuate
Gaining Ground: A History Of Landmarking In Boston
Gaining Ground: A History of Landmarking in Boston is a book written by Nancy S. Seasholes. It was released on September 1, 2003.
This book talks about how Boston has grown in size throughout the years. It explains in detail how this growth was done and how everything has been changing with time.
In this book, you can find specific details like information on how everything happened in the different neighborhoods throughout the city.
It is presumed that the effort put into the investigation to produce this book was extensive. It required a lot of effort from the writer.
The reviews of this book claim it to be one of the best books about the history of Boston. It talks about the importance and details of its growth.
Gain Ground The Videogame
Back in 1988, there was an action-strategy videogame that became really popular. This was an arcade game released for the Sega System 24. Starting in Japan, the U.S., and Canada.
After a few years, Gain Ground was ported to the Sega Master System (1990) and then Sega Mega Drive/Genesis (1991). A PC Engine Super CD-ROM version was released in 1992.
“Gain ground” was a top-down gun video game with strategy components. The player could control only one playable character over 20. The purpose was to defeat all the enemies on the screen. Another way of winning was bringing every character that was part of the players’ team to the exit.
There used to be two different arcade versions. One allowed up to 3 players, while the other supported just two players.
This game was called the “Algorithm Action Game” by developers. Every character in the game had its strengths and weaknesses. The players had to use the correct character in the right situation to clear the level. Also, there were enemies that required a weapon that was capable of hitting them to defeat them. These enemies were located in upper levels.
Each character had its own unique weapon. They had just one life, and a single hit could defeat them right at the moment. When a character gets defeated, there is a small symbol that remains on the battlefield. The character could be revived by taking them to the exit, and if the character that rescued the other got killed, the first character disappears.
The levels were divided by “Eras,” each era was divided into ten levels. In the last one, the player had to face the “Boss.” There were a total of 50 levels.
Project X Zone released a tribute to the game. Its chapters 15 and 17 are staged in a setting pulled from Gain Ground. Even chapter 15’s name is “Gain Ground System.”
More English Idioms
Conclusion
“Gain ground” is a phrase that is getting lost in the daily basis vocabulary. But it is important for us to know the meaning and its uses.
“Gain ground” is used to show advantage, progress, and popularity over someone or something else. There is no doubt that this phrase could elevate your vocabulary when you apply it in the right situation, in the right way.
Politics, marketing, business, sports, and war, are just a few of the applications “gain ground” could have. So, we would like to ask you, has there been a moment you felt like you were gaining ground? Or did someone gain ground over you?
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.