Phrase guide

make headway

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To progress; to move forward.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I worked on them all day, but barely made headway at all.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: tread water

2

verb

Meaning 2

obtain advantages, such as points, etc.

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The home team was gaining ground
  • After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gain, advance, win, pull ahead, get ahead, gain ground

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: steal, score, hit, tally, rack up

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: edetä — progress
  • Finnish: edistyä — progress
  • French: progresser — progress
  • French: avancer — progress
  • Latin: prōficiō — progress
  • Polish: postępować — progress
  • Polish: postąpić — progress
  • Portuguese: abrir caminho — progress
  • Tamil: முன்னேறு (muṉṉēṟu) — progress