Definition

The act of moving forward or making progress, especially towards a goal or destination.

Example

The team made significant headway on the project this week.

Conversation

Have you made any headway on your project lately?

Not really, I've been stuck on the first part.

I thought you were close to making some headway last week.

Yeah, but then I hit a roadblock and it slowed me down.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Headway is formed from "head" (from Old English "heafod", meaning the top or front part of something) and "way" (from Old English "weg", meaning a path or road). The word "headway" refers to progress made in a forward direction, as if moving ahead on a path.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'top' part ('head') of a 'path' ('way') to remember that 'headway' means making progress on a journey.

Visually Confused Words