inroad

IPA/ˈɪnrəʊd/
KK[ˈɪnrˌod]IPA/ˈɪnrəʊd/

inroad — noun

  • inroadsingular
  • inroadsplural

1. progress that lets someone or something enter an area or gain influence there, o

1.nounC1
Definition

progress that lets someone or something enter an area or gain influence there, often by weakening what was already established

Example

Cheap solar panels are making inroads into villages beyond the power grid.

make inroads into + place or market

By autumn, streaming services had made deep inroads into cable TV's audience.

Common collocations
  • make inroads into a market
  • make inroads on profits
  • deep inroads
  • further inroads
Synonyms
  • progress

    broader and more neutral, without the idea of cutting into someone else's position

  • headway

    stresses moving forward despite difficulty or delay

  • encroachment

    more negative and usually suggests unwanted spreading into another area or right

Antonyms
  • setback

    a problem or loss that stops progress or pushes it backward

  • stalemate

    a situation where neither side gains any further ground

Grammar Patterns

make inroads into + noun

make inroads on + noun

an inroad into + noun

Usage Note

Most often appears in the plural after make, especially with into for markets, groups, or areas of activity. Use on when the idea is cutting into something limited, such as time, money, or profits.

Common Mistakes

The startup made a lot of inroad into the market.
The startup made a lot of inroads into the market.
This noun is usually plural in the common expression 'make inroads into'.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Inroad, progress, headway, and encroachment all involve moving forward, but they highlight different things. Inroad is usually more formal and often suggests gaining ground in a market, field, or area that used to belong to someone else, or cutting into time, profits, or influence. Progress is the broad everyday word for moving ahead and does not itself suggest pressure on what is already there. Headway stresses successful movement despite difficulty, delay, or resistance. Encroachment is more negative and focuses on unwanted spreading into another person's space, rights, or territory. If you want the idea of advance plus pressure on an existing position, inroad is the best choice.

inroad ↗progress ↗headway ↗encroachment ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • deep inroads
  • further inroads
  • new inroads

Phrases

  • make inroads into
  • make further inroads into
  • make inroads on

Prepositions

  • inroads into a market
  • inroads on profits

Etymology

English

Inroad comes from older English uses of in road, literally the idea of a movement or way inward. Earlier writers often used it for a hostile attack or raid into a place. Modern English usually keeps the sense of pushing into new ground, but now most often in a figurative way, such as gaining market share or cutting into time, profits, or influence.

First known use

1548

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 2