Before his eyes they took on an opaque quality, gained substance.

The word seemed to gain weight and substance as it echoed toward the street.

But surely he expects to gain both substance and trappings.

He quickly pushed the terrible thought away lest it gain substance.

He trotted down the road, watching the house gaining substance.

A shape was coalescing, its form gaining substance with each passing moment.

His hair had seemed to gain substance with colour.

He touched a control, and the scene around them gained substance.

The mist absorbed the rays, was strengthened by them, gained substance.

The image began to gain substance; the world about it began to seem real.