headway

noun

head·​way ˈhed-ˌwā 

1

a

: motion or rate of motion in a forward direction

b

: advance, progress

2

: headroom (as under an arch) sufficient to allow passage

3

: the time interval between two vehicles traveling in the same direction on the same route

Synonyms

• advance
• advancement
• furtherance
• going
• march
• onrush
• passage
• process
• procession
• progress
• progression

Examples of headway in a Sentence

the ant was making little headway carrying a crumb that was about five times his size

Recent Examples on the Web

Since the start of the year, the rate for the most popular mortgage product has made little headway one way or the other, moving cautiously around the upper-6% range. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 23 May 2025

Los Angeles is making some headway with its plans to stem the tide of mid-budget productions moving to other cities in America. —Peter White, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2025

The budget was also in the news this week as the House and the Senate appeared to make some headway, though their positions aren’t exactly aligned. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025

Some state lawmakers point to financial support from the federal government as essential for the industry to grow, even if states make their own headway to build support for nuclear power. —Allison Prang, Baltimore Sun, 5 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing headway

• make headway

Rhymes for headway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

headway

noun

head·​way -ˌwā 

1

: motion forward

2

: progress entry 1 sense 2