headway

UK: /ˈhɛdweɪ/ US: /ˈhɛdˌweɪ/ ,(hed′wā′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

head•way¹ /ˈhɛdˌweɪ/   n. [uncountable]

1. forward movement;
   progress in a forward direction.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

head•way¹  (hed′wā′), n. 

1. forward movement;
   progress in a forward direction:
   The ship's headway was slowed by the storm.
2. progress in general:
   headway in a career.
3. rate of progress:
   a slight headway against concerted opposition.
4. Transport the time interval or distance between two vehicles, as automobiles, ships, or railroad or subway cars, traveling in the same direction over the same route.
5. Idioms make headway, to proceed forward;
   advance;
   progress.

• (a)head + way 1700–10

head•way²  (hed′wā′), n. 

1. Building headroom (def. 2).

• head + way 1700–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

headway / ˈhɛdˌweɪ/ noun

1. motion in a forward direction: the vessel made no headway
2. progress or rate of progress: he made no headway with the problem
3. another name for headroom
4. the distance or time between consecutive trains, buses, etc, on the same route

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

head•room /ˈhɛdˌrum, -ˌrʊm/   n. [uncountable]

1. Nautical, Naval Terms the space between the top of a vehicle and the lowest part of a bridge or tunnel it is passing under.
2. Building clear vertical space in which to move, stand, or sit:
   There's a lot of headroom in this van.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

head•room  (hed′ro̅o̅m′, -rŏŏm′), n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms the clear space between two decks.
2. Building Also called headway. clear vertical space, as between the head and sill of a doorway or between the ceiling and floor of an attic room at a certain point, esp. such height as to allow passage or comfortable occupancy.
3. Sound Reproduction [Audio.] See dynamic headroom. 

• head + room 1850–55

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

headroom / ˈhɛdˌrʊm -ˌruːm/, headway noun

1. the height of a bridge, room, etc; clearance