momentum

noun

mo·​men·​tum mō-ˈmen-təm How to pronounce momentum (audio)
mə-
plural momenta mō-ˈmen-tə How to pronounce momentum (audio)
mə-
or momentums
1
: a property (see property sense 1a) of a moving body that the body has by virtue of its mass (see mass entry 2 sense 1c) and motion and that is equal to the product of the body's mass and velocity
broadly : a property of a moving body that determines the length of time required to bring it to rest when under the action of a constant force or moment
2
: strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events
The wagon gained momentum as it rolled down the hill.

Examples of momentum in a Sentence

The company has had a successful year and hopes to maintain its momentum by introducing new products. The movie loses momentum toward the end.
Recent Examples on the Web The Year 2 improvement raised expectations for Smith’s third season — a momentum season for head coaches attempting to revitalize their programs. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 For Boyle, 29, this momentum hasn’t come a moment too soon. Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Bitcoin has gained momentum after a long dry spell. Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 The bipartisan legislation quickly gained momentum in the House, unanimously advancing out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024 The Biden administration would be likely to benefit from cuts that give the economy some momentum, while Donald Trump, who is closing in on the GOP nomination, routinely slams the Fed and the White House for high inflation and steep rates. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Biden can reverse that by capitalizing on his State of the Union momentum and campaigning personally and aggressively among voters, showing his energy, warning of the Trump menace and displaying humor. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Cole Scherer leads all scorers with 24 points, while Charlie Spann has turned in a monster game — and helped quell some of the Eagles’ momentum in the waning minutes of the third — with 18 total points. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024 One hope seems to be that the many challenges of developing clean-sheet BWB aircraft might be overcome by the sheer momentum of engineering and investment. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'momentum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, movement

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of momentum was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near momentum

Cite this Entry

“Momentum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentum. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

momentum

noun
mo·​men·​tum mō-ˈment-əm How to pronounce momentum (audio)
plural momenta -ˈment-ə How to pronounce momentum (audio) or momentums
1
: the characteristic of a moving body that is caused by its mass and its motion
2

Medical Definition

momentum

noun
mo·​men·​tum mō-ˈment-əm, mə-ˈment- How to pronounce momentum (audio)
plural momenta -ˈment-ə How to pronounce momentum (audio) or momentums
: a property of a moving body that the body has by virtue of its mass and motion and that is equal to the product of the body's mass and velocity
broadly : a property of a moving body that determines the length of time required to bring it to rest when under the action of a constant force

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