make headway

Idioms and Phrases

Advance, make progress, as in We haven't made any headway with this project . This expression, first recorded in 1887, uses headway in the nautical sense of “a vessel's forward movement.”

Example Sentences

That trend was expected to continue through Monday, giving crews several days to make headway putting a ring around the fire.

From Los Angeles Times

Harris' improvement is buttressed by 79% support from Black voters, a group Democrats feared might move in Trump's direction as Biden struggled to make headway against Trump.

From Salon

It comes after Pauline Innes, the NSTA’s supply chain and decommissioning director, warned licensees last November to make headway on the plugging and abandonment of wells.

From BBC

Her campaign has struggled to make headway against Morena’s well-oiled political machine.

From Los Angeles Times

Diplomats say that hostage negotiations need to be completed in order to make headway in other related diplomatic initiatives.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• advance
• carry on
• carry over
• endure
• extend
• go on
• last
• linger
• maintain
• persist
• progress
• promote
• pursue
• reach
• remain
• stay
• survive
• sustain