made headway

USAGE SUMMARY

"made headway" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to mean that some kind of progress has been made on a project, venture, or goal. For example, "The team has been working hard, and they have finally made headway on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They clearly made headway.

The Economist

Neither has made headway.

The New York Times - Sports

They made headway.

The New York Times - Books

The two groups have already made headway.

The New York Times

King has recently made headway.

The New York Times - Magazine

Adnams has already made headway.

The Guardian

It appears they finally made headway.

The Washington Post

I made headway out to the gate.

The New York Times

They have already made headway in some emerging markets.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

But they are making headway.

The New York Times

"We are making headway.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made headway" when you want to highlight that progress has been achieved despite challenges or resistance.

Common error

The phrase "made headway" should only be used when progress has been achieved. Do not use it in situations where efforts have been unsuccessful or have resulted in a setback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made headway" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the action of making progress or advancing in a particular endeavor. Ludwig provides multiple examples illustrating its usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

9%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made headway" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe progress toward a goal, as confirmed by Ludwig. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it effectively conveys that advancements have been made, often in the face of challenges. Alternatives like ""gained ground"" or "progressed" offer similar meanings, but "made headway" specifically implies overcoming some level of resistance. When using "made headway", ensure that the context reflects actual progress, avoiding its application in situations involving setbacks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gained ground

Focuses on the idea of improving one's position, often in a competitive context.

progressed

A more general term for moving forward, without necessarily implying overcoming obstacles.

advanced

Similar to 'progressed' but suggests a more significant level of achievement.

moved forward

A straightforward and neutral way of saying that progress has been achieved.

achieved progress

Emphasizes the accomplishment of making progress.

got somewhere

An informal way of saying that some degree of success has been attained.

turned a corner

Implies that a difficult period has been overcome and things are improving.

broke through

Suggests overcoming a significant barrier to achieve success.

made strides

Emphasizes significant and noticeable progress.

forged ahead

Implies determined and persistent effort in making progress.

FAQs

How to use "made headway" in a sentence?

You can use "made headway" to indicate that progress has been made towards a goal, such as, "The negotiations "gained ground" today with an agreement on police reforms".

What can I say instead of "made headway"?

You can use alternatives like ""gained ground"", "progressed", or "advanced" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "make headway" or "made headway"?

"Made headway" is the past tense of "make headway". Use "made headway" when referring to progress that has already occurred and "make headway" when discussing future or general progress.

What's the difference between "made headway" and "made progress"?

"Made headway" implies that progress was achieved despite some obstacle or resistance, whereas "made progress" is a more general term for advancement.