headway
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
progress that you make toward finishing something, especially when it is difficult.
figurative progress toward a goal or completion of a task, typically used with the verb 'make'.
Simple“We are finally making some headway with the project after weeks of delays.”
In context“Despite the initial bureaucratic hurdles, the research team has made significant headway in identifying the protein's primary function.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'to make headway'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the forward movement of a ship or vehicle.
the physical forward motion of a vessel or vehicle, or the rate of such motion.
Simple“The ship struggled to make headway against the strong winds and high waves.”
In context“The captain noted that the vessel was barely making headway due to the severe mechanical failure in the primary engine.”
UsageOften used in nautical or transport contexts.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
the amount of time or distance between two buses or trains on the same route.
the temporal or spatial interval between two vehicles travelling in succession on the same route.
Simple“The city increased the bus headway to ten minutes during the morning rush hour.”
In context“To reduce platform crowding, the transit authority proposed shortening the headway between subway trains to ninety seconds.”
UsageUsed primarily in urban planning and public transport logistics.
- 04 C1 Advanced
the vertical space under a bridge or ceiling.
the vertical distance between the floor or ground and the underside of a structure above it.
Simple“The truck was too tall for the tunnel because there wasn't enough headway.”
In context“The architect had to adjust the design of the mezzanine to ensure sufficient headway for taller visitors.”
Synonymsheadroomclearance
Partly from Middle English hauedwei, from Old English hēafodweġ (“head-road, main-road”); partly as a shortening of ahead-way, the source of the nautical sense. By surface analysis, head + way.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.