Momentum

n.energetic, hopefulprofessional

What it means

Progress that creates energy and makes further progress easier to sustain.

Reach for it when encouraging continued action after early movement or success

Two completed interviews gave the research team enough momentum to finish recruitment.

playful
surge
when energy or activity rises sharply over a short period
not when A surge may fade as quickly as it appears, unlike sustained momentum.
everyday
drive
when personal determination supplies sustained forward effort
not when Drive belongs to a person or group, while momentum can exist in the sequence of results.
everyday
headway
when visible advances have been made against a difficult problem
not when Headway measures gains but not the self-reinforcing energy they create.
warm
forward motion
for reassuring language that emphasizes continuing movement
not when The phrase is broader and less precise about acceleration or accumulating force.
professional
progress
when movement toward the goal itself is enough to report
not when Progress can be slow or fragile and does not imply increasing force.
professional
traction
when an idea, campaign, or product is gaining adoption or practical hold
not when Traction concerns external uptake and may ignore the team's internal energy.
formal
continuity
when uninterrupted work across time is what must be protected
not when Continuity prevents a break but says nothing about increasing speed or confidence.
formal
impetus
when a specific event supplies the initial push to act
not when Impetus starts movement; momentum is the force that builds after movement begins.

build momentum
Completing one small repair each morning helped build momentum.
gain momentum
The petition began to gain momentum after the public forum.
maintain momentum
Weekly demonstrations maintained momentum while the larger system was rebuilt.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.