WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
gain ground v 1: obtain advantages, such as points, etc.; "The home team was gaining ground"; "After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference" [syn: gain, advance, win, pull ahead, make headway, get ahead, gain ground] [ant: drop off, fall back, fall behind, lose, recede]