noun
headway
HEHD-way
Headway (noun) means Progress made toward completing something. Example: “After weeks of setbacks, the team finally made headway on the project.”
noun
1
Progress made toward completing something.
"After weeks of setbacks, the team finally made headway on the project."
2
The time or distance gap between vehicles, such as buses or trains, running the same route.
"The whole of the main lines to be electrified were being equipped with four-aspect colour-light signals, automatically operated, where appropriate, and spaced to give a 5min headway throughout."
— , Planning the London Midland main-line electrification (1961)
"The transit agency reduced headway during rush hour so buses arrive more often."
"Sixty minutes divided by the headway gives a potential figure for 'trains per hour' - the simplest possible and most simplistic definition of capacity, termed line capacity."
— William Barter, West Coast capacity study (2019)
How to use headway
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishForward progress toward a goal, or the gap between vehicles on a route.
Common pairings
make headway
gain headway
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Word forms
- Plural
- headways
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After weeks of setbacks, the team finally made _____ on the project.
Etymology
Partly from Old English hēafodweġ ("main road"), and partly a shortening of "ahead-way," describing forward progress.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for headway
See all rhymes for headway →Frequently asked questions
What does “headway” mean?
The word “headway” means progress made toward completing something. In plain terms, forward progress toward a goal, or the gap between vehicles on a route.
How do you pronounce “headway”?
“Headway” is pronounced HEHD-way (/ˈhɛdweɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “headway” in a sentence?
Here is “headway” used in a sentence: “After weeks of setbacks, the team finally made headway on the project.”
What part of speech is “headway”?
“Headway” is a noun.
Where does the word “headway” come from?
The word “headway” comes from Old English. Partly from Old English hēafodweġ ("main road"), and partly a shortening of "ahead-way," describing forward progress.
How many meanings does “headway” have?
“Headway” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: progress made toward completing something.
