From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English gain ground to make steady progress and become more popular, more successful etc The anti-smoking lobby has steadily gained ground in the last decade. → gain Examples from the Corpus gain ground • The fierce campaign by several anti-Maastricht movem...

gain ground on or upon . Encroach on, advance at the expense of. For example, Door-to-door canvassing helped them gain ground on the opposition . Advance, make progress; also, win acceptance. For example, The new conservation policy is gaining ground among the voters .