to gain speed - Glite Dictionary

Examples

She's gaining speed real fast.

Runaway Train (1985)
The purpose of this lesson was to help students gain speed and accuracy in reading phrases.

Academic text (2015)
The car set off and gained speed.

Fiction book (2002)
Not only will the gravity pull you in, but you will gain speed just to catch up with the planet in its orbit.
The two vehicles are now locked together, gaining speed as they hurtle down the grade.

Fiction book (1997)
In an instant, the drum goes rolling down the ramp, quickly gaining speed.

Fiction book (1999)
The wolves surged over the edge and ran down the slope, gaining speed as they went.

Fiction book (1992)
Red's tractor trailer is traveling across the crowded parking area, slowly gaining speed.

Fiction book (1997)
Riker shot forward, gaining speed on the algae-slick surface of the disused ramp.

Fiction book (1992)
Gale spins the van around, onto the road, hits the gas madly, gaining speed just as ... Sidney appears.

Fiction book (1996)

Synonyms

to accelerate

vsto gain speed

Specialized

331 3.7

To move faster or make something happen faster

refers to the initial increase from a slower speed

to speed

vsto gain speed

191 1.0

To make something move or happen faster

describes beginning to increase rate of movement from a slow state

to speed up

vsto gain speed

161 2.5

To make something move or happen faster

starts moving faster from a slower state

to step up

vsto gain speed

74 3.4

Make something greater in amount, speed or strength

is about starting to move faster specifically, not general increases

to pick up the pace

vsto gain speed

23 4.0

To move or work faster

indicates starting to move faster rather than just trying harder

to gain momentum

vsto gain speed

15 4.1

To start moving faster while also growing stronger and gaining support over time

refers only to beginning physical increase in movement speed

to quicken

vsto gain speed

12 4.1

To move or happen faster

focuses on starting to move faster rather than steady acceleration

to step on the gas

vsto gain speed

Informal

9 3.7

To press the pedal in a car to make it go faster or hurry to finish something

refers to beginning to increase speed, not only vehicle control

to hit the gas

vsto gain speed

Informal

8 3.6

Press the car pedal to make it go faster

means to start moving faster from a slower state rather than sustained speed

to spurt

vsto gain speed

1 3.5

To move or act suddenly with more speed for a short time

describes starting to move faster generally, not a brief sudden burst

to hit the accelerator

vsto gain speed

Informal

1 4.4

To try harder or work faster to reach a goal

focuses on beginning to move faster rather than reaching a goal

to rev up

vsto gain speed

Informal

1 4.6

To make something faster or more active

focuses on starting to move faster rather than raising intensity

to quicken the pace

vsto gain speed

1 3.9

Move or work faster to finish sooner

means to begin moving faster from a slower start

Antonyms

to slow down

687 1.4

To move or act more slowly

How Fast

to sprint

46 1.0

to accelerate

Specialized

331 3.7

to gain speed

3 2.5

to pick up the pace

23 4.0

to start

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

gain speed infinitive

gained speed past

gained speed past participle

gaining speed present participle

gains speed third person singular

Morphology

gain + speed

The meaning 'to begin moving faster' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'gain' (to increase) with 'speed' (rate of movement); the verb + noun composition yields the expected increase-in-speed sense. This compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically straightforward, so a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Gain speed paints a simple picture: something gains more speed, like a car rolling down a hill and moving faster and faster. So it means 'to begin moving faster'.