headway

noun

head·​way ˈhed-ˌwā 

1

a

: motion or rate of motion in a forward direction

b

: advance, progress

gradually making some headway on the project

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 of headway

• progress
• advance
• process
• advancement
• progression
• procession

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

Has any federal plan to tax the wealthy made any headway in Congress? —Dana Taylor, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

Lawmakers and aides have called the conversations constructive with positive headway. —Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 24 Mar. 2026

Making serious headway on housing would require some politically difficult policy changes. —Dan Walters, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

Three times as many routes will operate 15-minute headways compared to today, and weekend service will match that of weekdays. —Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026

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