made headway
Gained some ground
Made headway means achieved progress or advancement toward a goal.
The expression comes from nautical usage—headway is forward movement of a ship through water.
Now it applies to any effort that moves forward: We've finally made headway on the budget negotiations.
Often used with modifiers: made little headway, made significant headway.
- progressedMoved toward completion
- making stridesAdvancing considerably toward goals
- forwardOnward in direction
- advancedFar along in development
- gaining groundMaking steady headway
improved · inroads · pushing forward · grew · forging ahead · steering · momentum · breakthrough · breaking through · turning point · maneuvering · milestone · accomplishment · development · evolution · growth · determination · triumph
- pressed onpressed on, pushed on, persisted, persevered, continued
made headwaystalled
Stopped unexpectedly
stood still · stagnated · hit a wall · treaded water · marked time
made headwaylost ground
Yielded previously held advantage
fell behind · regressed · backslid · retreated · slipped back
make, made, makers, remake, remade, unmade, head, heads, headed