Progress or advancement toward a goal; the forward movement of a ship or vessel through water.
Compound of 'head' and 'way,' originally a nautical term. 'Head' referred to the forward direction of a ship, and 'way' meant movement or progress through water.
The nautical origin explains why 'headway' feels like you're always moving forward—sailors literally measure the forward progress of their ship. The phrase 'make headway' captures that sense of pushing through resistance, just like a ship pushing through waves.
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