momentum
This word captures the feeling of an unstoppable force. In physics, it is a literal measurement of mass and speed, but in common speech, it describes a psychological or social snowball effect where success feeds more success. It suggests a state of flow where the energy required to keep something moving is lower than the energy required to start it from a standstill.
Using this term often implies a tipping point. While a process might start slowly, once it has momentum, it becomes difficult to halt or redirect. It is frequently used in sports, politics, and business to describe a winning streak or a rapidly growing trend that feels inevitable.
Uncountable when referring to the physics concept of mass times velocity. Countable when referring to a specific instance of a driving force or a particular push in a sequence of events.
Meanings
Examples
The speeding truck had so much momentum that it crashed through the wall.
The campaign gained momentum after the endorsement from the senator.