meɪk ˈhɛdweɪ
Travel
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- to move forward through the water (nautical term)
What does "make headway" mean?
to make progress toward a goal
Examples
- After weeks of stalled negotiations, we're finally making headway.
- The researchers are making headway in developing a treatment.
- It's hard to make headway on this project when we keep losing team members.
Origin
A nautical term from the 18th century. 'Headway' refers to a ship's forward motion.
How to use it
Implies progress that requires effort, especially against resistance.
Similar expressions
make progress
gain ground
move forward
Opposites
lose ground
fall behind
stall
Related idioms
- hit the road
To leave or depart on a journey
- in the same boat
In the same difficult situation as someone else
- miss the boat
To miss an opportunity
- go the extra mile
to make more effort than is expected or required
- a long way to go
much more work or progress is needed before completion
- that ship has sailed
The opportunity has passed
Use it in a practice answer
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