headway
Gaining ground steadily
Headway is forward progress or advancement.
A ship makes headway through water; a project gains headway toward completion.
We're finally making headway on the budget negotiations.
The word often appears with make, suggesting effort against resistance.
Headway also refers to the interval between vehicles in transit—trains or buses following a route.
Forward movement or promotion
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- progressMovement toward improvement
- gainPositive return received
- improvementPositive change in quality
development · growth · forward motion · strides · advance · inroads · breakthrough · momentum
Adhesive friction enabling movement
- impetusForce initiating action
- driveOperate a vehicle
- thrustForceful forward motion
- steamHeated water's gaseous form
velocity · acceleration · propulsion · force · energy · inertia · buildup · continuity
Permitted passage or approval
- draftPreliminary version of text
- passageSegment of text
- channelPassage for transmission
- waterwayNavigable route for vessels
navigation · vessel · ship · maritime · harbor · berthing · maneuvering · pilotage
Creating something original
- discoveryAct of finding something
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- game-changerSomething transforming everything
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
leap forward · quantum leap · watershed · pivotal moment · revelation · insight · eureka · paradigm shift
Obstruction preventing passage
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
setback · hurdle · difficulty · challenge · blockage · slowdown · stall · delay
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- progressMovement toward improvement
- gainPositive return received
improvement · development · growth · forward motion · strides · advance · inroads · breakthrough · momentum · traction
traction
Adhesive friction enabling movement
steam · velocity · acceleration · propulsion · force · energy · inertia · buildup · continuity · persistence
clearance
Permitted passage or approval
waterway · navigation · vessel · ship · maritime · harbor · berthing · maneuvering · pilotage · seaway
innovation
Creating something original
- discoveryAct of finding something
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- game-changerSomething transforming everything
turning point · leap forward · quantum leap · watershed · pivotal moment · revelation · insight · eureka · paradigm shift · transformation
barrier
Obstruction preventing passage
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- roadblockObstruction across a road
bottleneck · setback · hurdle · difficulty · challenge · blockage · slowdown · stall · delay · standstill
- progress wordsadvance, progress, improve, grow, develop
- gradual progressbaby steps, inching, crawling, creeping, steady growth
- public transitbus, train, subway, metro, tram
- train termsall aboard, engine, departure time, arrival time, passenger car
- bus transitbus stop, bus stops, bus route, bus routes, bus driver
- commutingcommute, morning commute, evening commute, commute time, long commute
headwayregression
Return to former state
regress · retreat · backsliding · reversal · retrogression
headwaystagnation
Absence of flow or progress
standstill · stoppage · inertia · deadlock · impasse
- make headwayAchieve forward momentum
- making headwayAchieving forward progress
- made headwayAchieved forward progress