headway
1 Americannoun
-
forward movement; progress in a forward direction.
The ship's headway was slowed by the storm.
-
progress in general.
headway in a career.
-
rate of progress.
a slight headway against concerted opposition.
-
the time interval or distance between two vehicles, as automobiles, ships, or railroad or subway cars, traveling in the same direction over the same route.
idioms
noun
noun
-
motion in a forward direction
the vessel made no headway
-
progress or rate of progress
he made no headway with the problem
-
another name for headroom
-
the distance or time between consecutive trains, buses, etc, on the same route
Etymology
Origin of headway1
First recorded in 1700–10; (a)head + way 1
Origin of headway2
Explanation
Headway is what you achieve when you move forward or make progress. When you're rowing a boat on a very windy day, it can be hard to make any headway. You can literally make headway, as when you move forward, fighting your way through an enormous crowd at a shopping mall or rock concert — and you can also make a more metaphorical kind of headway: "I have been trying to write this novel for three years, but I'm just not making any headway." The word meant "the main road" in the 14th and 15th centuries, and came to mean "motion forward" in the 1740s.
Vocabulary lists containing headway
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Freedom Writers Diary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The challengers say Hernandez has failed to making meaningful headway on homeless encampments in Chinatown, Lincoln Heights and other parts of the district.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
Efforts since then, including during President Biden's term, made little headway.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
At that point, Cadillac already had around 300 employees and had made headway on its aerodynamic design.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026
A month ago, I highlighted the fragility in the financial sector, arguing that the broader market would struggle to make meaningful headway without its participation.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
The RJF members were about to leave Japan, depressed that they’d made little headway, when a call came in from Suzuki that bore potentially good news.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
