headway

noun

head·​way ˈhed-ˌwā How to pronounce headway (audio)
1
a
: motion or rate of motion in a forward direction
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for headway

Word History

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of headway was in 1730

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headway. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

headway

noun
head·​way -ˌwā How to pronounce headway (audio)
1
: motion forward
2

More from Merriam-Webster on headway

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