Are you looking for a better way to say making progress without repeating the same phrase? Whether you’re talking about work, personal goals, learning, or a project, finding the right expression can make your writing sound more natural and specific. Other Ways to Say Making Progress can help you describe improvement, forward movement, growth, or steady development with greater clarity.
Making progress means moving forward toward a goal or achieving gradual improvement. You might use it to describe someone who is getting better at a skill, a project that is moving closer to completion, or a person who is finally achieving the results they want. The best alternative depends on the situation and the kind of progress you want to emphasize.
Examples:
- The team is making good progress on the new project.
- She is steadily moving forward with her studies.
The phrase is useful, but using it repeatedly can make your writing feel predictable. People often search for other ways to say making progress, another word for making progress, synonyms for making progress, or different ways to say making progress when they want a more precise or natural expression. For example, moving forward, gaining ground, making headway, and moving in the right direction can each convey progress with a slightly different tone.
In this guide, you’ll discover the best Other Ways to Say Making Progress, including expressions for professional writing, casual conversations, work and projects, personal growth, and academic situations. You’ll also learn what each phrase means, see clear examples, and find out when each alternative works best.
What Does “Making Progress” Mean?
Making progress means moving toward a goal or reaching a more advanced or developed stage. Cambridge Dictionary defines make progress as achieving a more advanced or developed state.
The expression can describe almost anything that develops over time:
- Completing a work project
- Learning a new language
- Improving a skill
- Recovering from a setback
- Solving a difficult problem
- Reaching a personal goal
- Developing a business
- Advancing research
- Improving academic performance
For example:
“We’re making progress on the new website.”
This tells the reader that the website project has moved forward, even if it isn’t finished yet.
The phrase doesn’t necessarily mean that something is complete. That’s an important distinction. Progress describes movement toward an outcome, not necessarily the achievement of that outcome.
Best Other Ways to Say “Making Progress”
Here are some of the most useful alternatives:
| Alternative | Tone | Best Use |
| Moving forward | Neutral | General situations |
| Making headway | Neutral | Difficult tasks or problems |
| Making strides | Positive | Significant improvement |
| Advancing | Formal | Projects, research, careers |
| Moving ahead | Neutral | Work and plans |
| Gaining ground | Strong | Competition or overcoming obstacles |
| Getting ahead | Casual/neutral | Personal or professional advancement |
| Getting somewhere | Casual | Everyday conversation |
| Showing improvement | Neutral | Skills and performance |
| Developing | Neutral/formal | Skills, ideas, products |
| Improving | Neutral | Performance or condition |
| Closing the gap | Specific | Reducing a difference |
| Reaching milestones | Professional | Projects and long-term goals |
| Taking steps forward | Neutral | Gradual progress |
| Moving in the right direction | Positive | Early or partial progress |
| Making significant progress | Formal | Major achievements |
| Making steady progress | Neutral | Consistent development |
| Making good progress | Neutral | General updates |
| Advancing toward a goal | Formal | Goals and plans |
| Coming along nicely | Casual | Projects and development |
Moving Forward
Moving forward is one of the easiest alternatives to “making progress.” It suggests that something is continuing toward a goal or a better position.
It works in professional communication, everyday conversation, planning, and personal discussions.
For example:
- “The project is moving forward as planned.”
- “We’re moving forward with the new design.”
- “She’s moving forward with her career.”
- “The negotiations are finally moving forward.”
The phrase can also suggest leaving past problems behind.
“We had some setbacks, but we’re moving forward now.”
That’s slightly different from simply saying “we’re making progress.” It emphasizes continued action after a difficulty or change.
Making Headway
Making headway is one of the closest alternatives to “making progress.” Merriam-Webster defines make headway as moving forward or making progress. Cambridge similarly defines it as making progress or getting closer to achieving something.
However, making headway often sounds particularly natural when a task is difficult.
Examples include:
- “The researchers are making headway in their investigation.”
- “We’re finally making headway on the project.”
- “The team has made considerable headway.”
- “She isn’t making much headway with the problem.”
The expression can also work with on, in, with, and against, depending on the context. Cambridge provides examples such as make headway on something, make headway in doing something, and make headway against something.
When to Use “Making Headway”
Use it when you want to suggest that someone is overcoming resistance, solving a problem, or gradually getting closer to a goal.
“After several failed experiments, the scientists are finally making headway.”
That sounds more meaningful than simply saying:
“The scientists are making progress.”
The first sentence highlights the difficulty behind the progress.
Making Strides
Making strides suggests noticeable or important progress. Cambridge defines make strides as making an important positive development.
This makes it especially useful when the improvement is substantial.
Examples:
- “The company is making strides in renewable energy.”
- “She has made impressive strides in her writing.”
- “The students are making strides in mathematics.”
- “The team has made major strides toward its goal.”
You can strengthen the expression with words such as:
- making great strides
- making significant strides
- making impressive strides
- making major strides
- making rapid strides
“Making Progress” vs. “Making Strides”
The difference is mainly one of strength.
“The student is making progress in math.”
This simply says the student is improving.
“The student is making strides in math.”
This suggests the improvement is noticeable or significant.
If you want your writing to sound more positive and energetic, making strides can be an excellent choice.
Advancing
Advancing is a more concise and often more formal way to describe progress.
It works particularly well in professional, academic, scientific, and technical writing.
Examples:
- “The research is advancing rapidly.”
- “The project is advancing according to schedule.”
- “Technology continues to advance.”
- “The company is advancing its plans for expansion.”
- “Researchers are advancing their understanding of the disease.”
Unlike making progress, which sounds conversational, advancing can create a more polished tone.
For example:
Casual:
“We’re making progress on the project.”
More formal:
“The project is advancing according to schedule.”
Both communicate progress. The second simply has a more professional flavor.
Moving Ahead
Moving ahead means continuing toward a goal or plan.
It works especially well when discussing projects, decisions, plans, and future actions.
Examples:
- “We’re moving ahead with the renovation.”
- “The company is moving ahead with its expansion plans.”
- “The team is moving ahead despite the delays.”
- “Everything is moving ahead as expected.”
The phrase often emphasizes continuation rather than the amount of progress achieved.
Gaining Ground
Gaining ground is useful when progress involves overcoming competition, reducing a disadvantage, or getting closer to a desired position.
Examples:
- “The smaller company is gaining ground on its competitors.”
- “The campaign is gaining ground among younger voters.”
- “The team has gained ground after several strong performances.”
- “The researchers are gaining ground in their search for a solution.”
This expression has a competitive or strategic feel.
For instance:
“Our team is making progress.”
is broad.
“Our team is gaining ground.”
suggests that the team is improving its position relative to someone or something else.
That distinction makes gaining ground more specific.
Getting Ahead
Getting ahead usually means progressing toward a better position in life, work, business, or another area.
Examples:
- “She works hard because she wants to get ahead.”
- “The company is getting ahead of its competitors.”
- “Taking additional courses can help you get ahead.”
- “He’s getting ahead in his career.”
It can also refer to completing work before a deadline:
“Let’s get ahead on the report before Friday.”
This makes it useful in casual workplace conversations.
However, getting ahead isn’t always a direct substitute for making progress. It often carries the additional idea of advantage, success, or advancement.
Getting Somewhere
If you want a casual alternative, getting somewhere works well.
It suggests that your efforts are beginning to produce useful results.
Examples:
- “I think we’re finally getting somewhere.”
- “After hours of testing, we’re getting somewhere.”
- “She’s really getting somewhere with her new business.”
- “I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere with this problem.”
This phrase sounds natural in conversation but may feel too informal for a formal report.
Compare:
“The investigation is making progress.”
with:
“I think we’re finally getting somewhere.”
The second feels more conversational and personal.
Showing Improvement
Sometimes showing improvement is more precise than “making progress.”
Use it when you can clearly see that someone’s performance, condition, or ability has become better.
Examples:
- “The student is showing improvement in reading.”
- “The patient is showing improvement.”
- “The team is showing improvement after changing its strategy.”
- “Her writing is showing significant improvement.”
The key difference is that improvement focuses on becoming better, while progress can focus more broadly on moving toward a goal.
Improving
The simple verb improving can replace “making progress” when the main idea is becoming better.
Examples:
- “His writing is improving.”
- “The team’s performance is improving.”
- “Sales are improving.”
- “Her confidence is improving.”
This is often cleaner than using a longer expression.
Instead of:
“She is making progress in her ability to communicate clearly.”
you could write:
“Her communication skills are improving.”
The second sentence is shorter and more direct.
Developing
Developing works well when something is growing, becoming more advanced, or taking shape.
Examples:
- “The idea is still developing.”
- “Her leadership skills are developing quickly.”
- “The product is developing into a strong competitor.”
- “The technology is continuing to develop.”
However, developing doesn’t always mean that something is improving. Development can simply mean changing or becoming more complete.
That’s why the context matters.
Moving in the Right Direction
When progress is real but incomplete, moving in the right direction is an excellent choice.
Examples:
- “The new strategy is moving us in the right direction.”
- “We’re moving in the right direction, but there’s still work to do.”
- “Her recent results show that she’s moving in the right direction.”
- “The company is moving in the right direction.”
This expression is especially useful when you don’t want to exaggerate results.
For example, if a project has improved but remains far from complete, saying:
“We’re moving in the right direction.”
can sound more accurate than:
“We’re making significant progress.”
Taking Steps Forward
Taking steps forward emphasizes gradual movement toward a goal.
Examples:
- “The team is taking important steps forward.”
- “She’s taking steps forward in her recovery.”
- “The company has taken several steps forward.”
- “We need to take a few more steps forward before launching.”
The phrase works particularly well when progress happens through a series of smaller actions.
Making Significant Progress
If you need a formal alternative, making significant progress is straightforward and precise.
Examples:
- “The researchers have made significant progress.”
- “The project has made significant progress over the past month.”
- “The company has made significant progress toward its sustainability goals.”
This phrase works well in:
- Business reports
- Academic writing
- Research updates
- Project summaries
- Formal presentations
It also allows you to distinguish substantial progress from minor movement.
Making Steady Progress
Making steady progress emphasizes consistency.
It doesn’t necessarily suggest rapid improvement. Instead, it tells the reader that development is continuing at a reliable pace.
Examples:
- “We’re making steady progress on the project.”
- “She is making steady progress in her studies.”
- “The construction work is making steady progress.”
- “The team has made steady progress throughout the year.”
This is useful when you want to sound positive without overstating results.
Making Good Progress
Making good progress is a common and natural phrase for everyday and professional communication.
Examples:
- “We’re making good progress on the report.”
- “How are you making good progress with your studies?”
- “The team is making good progress.”
- “The renovation is making good progress.”
It is simple and flexible. If you don’t need a particularly creative or formal alternative, this expression is often enough.
Closing the Gap
Closing the gap has a specific meaning. It suggests reducing the difference between two positions, levels, groups, or results.
Examples:
- “The company is closing the gap with its larger competitors.”
- “The student is closing the gap in reading ability.”
- “The team has closed the gap considerably.”
- “New technology is helping close the performance gap.”
This isn’t a universal synonym for “making progress.” Use it only when a measurable difference is shrinking.
Reaching Milestones
When progress can be divided into identifiable stages, reaching milestones is often more informative than simply saying “making progress.”
For example:
“The project is making progress.”
is vague.
“The project has reached three major milestones.”
tells the reader exactly how progress can be measured.
Common milestones include:
- Completing a prototype
- Finishing a research phase
- Reaching a sales target
- Passing an exam
- Completing a training stage
- Launching a product
- Meeting a development deadline
This expression works particularly well in project management and business writing.
Making Progress at Work
Workplace communication often requires a balance between clarity and professionalism. You don’t want every project update to sound identical.
Instead of repeatedly writing “We are making progress,” consider these alternatives:
- “We’re moving forward with the project.”
- “The team is making steady headway.”
- “We’re on track to meet the deadline.”
- “The project is advancing as planned.”
- “We’ve reached several important milestones.”
- “We’re moving in the right direction.”
- “We’ve made significant strides this quarter.”
- “The team is getting closer to completion.”
Example Workplace Update
Instead of:
“We are making progress on the new website.”
you could write:
“The new website is moving forward as planned. We’ve completed the homepage and product pages, and we’re now testing the checkout process.”
The second version is stronger because it shows the progress instead of simply labeling it.
Making Progress on a Project
Project updates benefit from specific language.
Consider these examples:
| Situation | Better Expression |
| The project has started successfully | The project is up and running |
| Work continues normally | The project is moving forward |
| A difficult problem has been partly solved | We’re making headway |
| Results have improved considerably | We’ve made significant strides |
| The project remains on schedule | We’re on track |
| Important stages are complete | We’ve reached several milestones |
| Progress is slow but consistent | We’re making steady progress |
| A problem is becoming smaller | We’re closing the gap |
Specific wording gives your reader more information than the generic phrase making progress.
Making Progress in School or Learning
Learning rarely happens all at once. That’s why expressions such as making steady progress, showing improvement, and developing skills work especially well in academic contexts.
Examples:
- “She is making steady progress in Spanish.”
- “His reading skills are improving.”
- “The students are making significant strides in mathematics.”
- “She is developing stronger writing skills.”
- “He’s moving in the right direction academically.”
- “The student has reached an important milestone.”
For instance:
“I’m making progress in Spanish.”
is perfectly natural.
But:
“I’m making steady progress in Spanish, especially with listening comprehension.”
is more informative because it identifies the type of progress.
Making Progress in Personal Growth
Personal development often requires softer language because progress isn’t always easy to measure.
Useful expressions include:
- moving forward
- taking steps forward
- showing improvement
- developing
- getting somewhere
- moving in the right direction
- making steady progress
- reaching personal milestones
Examples:
“She’s taking important steps forward in building her confidence.”
“He’s making steady progress toward his personal goals.”
“I feel like I’m finally moving forward.”
These phrases acknowledge improvement without making unrealistic claims.
Making Progress in a Sentence
The best alternative depends on what you want to emphasize.
To emphasize general progress
“We’re moving forward with the plan.”
To emphasize difficult progress
“The researchers are making headway in their investigation.”
To emphasize major improvement
“The team is making significant strides.”
To emphasize competition
“The company is gaining ground on its competitors.”
To emphasize gradual development
“The students are making steady progress.”
To emphasize measurable achievements
“We’ve reached several important milestones.”
To sound casual
“I think we’re getting somewhere.”
To sound formal
“The research is advancing rapidly.”
“Making Progress” vs. Similar Expressions
These phrases may look interchangeable, but they don’t always carry the same meaning.
| Phrase | Main Idea | Example |
| Making progress | Moving toward a goal | “We’re making progress on the project.” |
| Moving forward | Continuing toward an outcome | “We’re moving forward with the plan.” |
| Making headway | Progress despite difficulty | “We’re making headway with the investigation.” |
| Making strides | Noticeable improvement | “She’s making strides in her studies.” |
| Advancing | Moving to a more developed stage | “The research is advancing quickly.” |
| Gaining ground | Improving one’s position | “The team is gaining ground.” |
| Getting ahead | Advancing or gaining an advantage | “She’s getting ahead in her career.” |
| Getting somewhere | Beginning to achieve useful results | “We’re finally getting somewhere.” |
| Improving | Becoming better | “His performance is improving.” |
| Closing the gap | Reducing a difference | “The team is closing the gap.” |
How to Choose the Right Alternative to “Making Progress”
Choosing the right phrase becomes easier when you identify what kind of progress you’re describing.
Use “moving forward” for general situations
It’s broad, natural, and rarely sounds out of place.
Use “making headway” for difficult situations
This is especially effective when someone has encountered obstacles but is finally getting results. Cambridge specifically lists make headway among expressions used for making progress and advancing.
Use “making strides” for noticeable improvement
Choose this when you want to communicate that progress is substantial rather than minor.
Use “advancing” for formal writing
It fits professional, academic, scientific, and technical contexts.
Use “gaining ground” for competition
This phrase works best when someone’s position is improving relative to another person, group, or standard.
Use “getting somewhere” for casual conversation
It’s friendly and conversational but may sound too informal in a formal report.
Use “reaching milestones” for measurable progress
This is ideal when you can point to specific achievements.
Use “moving in the right direction” for cautious optimism
It communicates that things are improving without suggesting that the goal has already been reached.
Case Study: Turning a Weak Project Update Into a Strong One
Imagine a manager needs to update a client about a software project.
A weak update might say:
“We’re making progress on the project.”
There’s nothing grammatically wrong with that sentence. The problem is that it tells the client very little.
A stronger update would say:
“The project is moving forward as planned. We’ve completed the database migration and user-interface testing, and we’re now addressing the final performance issues.”
This version works because it gives evidence of progress.
An even more concise version could be:
“We’ve made significant headway on the project and have completed two major milestones.”
Now the reader knows both the degree of progress and the evidence behind it.
The Lesson
When possible, don’t rely on a vague synonym alone. Pair the expression with a concrete result.
Instead of:
“We’re making strides.”
Try:
“We’ve made significant strides and completed the first phase of testing.”
That small change makes the writing much more convincing.
Another Case Study: Describing Academic Progress
Consider a student learning a new language.
Basic
“Maria is making progress in Spanish.”
More precise
“Maria is making steady progress in Spanish.”
Emphasizing improvement
“Maria’s Spanish skills are improving, particularly her listening comprehension.”
Emphasizing major gains
“Maria has made significant strides in Spanish over the past semester.”
Emphasizing direction
“Maria is moving in the right direction and becoming more confident in conversations.”
All five sentences communicate positive development. However, each one highlights a different aspect of that development.
That’s the real advantage of using alternatives to “making progress.” You’re not simply replacing words. You’re choosing a phrase that tells the reader what kind of progress is happening.
Other Useful Phrases for Making Progress
Several additional expressions can work depending on the context.
On Track
“The project is on track to launch next month.”
Use this when progress matches the expected schedule.
Coming Along
“The new website is coming along nicely.”
This is casual and works well when discussing something that is being built or developed.
Making Good Headway
“We’re making good headway on the renovation.”
This combines the idea of positive progress with the nuance of headway.
Making Strong Progress
“The team is making strong progress toward its target.”
This works in professional settings but is less idiomatic than making significant progress or making good progress.
Making Great Strides
“The organization has made great strides in improving access to education.”
This emphasizes substantial improvement.
Making a Step Forward
“The new agreement represents an important step forward.”
This is particularly useful when one event marks a meaningful change.
Coming a Long Way
“The company has come a long way since it launched.”
This highlights the distance between an earlier state and the current one.
Common Mistakes When Replacing “Making Progress”
Not every synonym works in every sentence.
Mistake: Using “gaining ground” for every type of progress
Gaining ground usually suggests an improvement in position, often compared with another side or standard.
“The company is gaining ground on its competitors.”
Natural.
“The company is gaining ground while learning a new accounting system.”
Less natural unless the context involves a comparison.
Mistake: Using “making strides” for tiny changes
Making strides suggests meaningful progress.
If someone has learned one new word, saying they have “made tremendous strides” may sound exaggerated.
Mistake: Using casual expressions in formal writing
“Getting somewhere” sounds natural in conversation:
“We’re finally getting somewhere.”
For a formal report, something like this may work better:
“The team has made significant progress.”
Mistake: Treating all progress as improvement
Progress and improvement overlap, but they’re not identical.
A project can make progress without every aspect becoming better. It may simply move from one stage to another.
Quick Guide to the Best Alternatives
If you need a fast answer, use this guide:
- General: moving forward
- Difficult task: making headway
- Major improvement: making strides
- Formal writing: advancing
- Competitive situation: gaining ground
- Career advancement: getting ahead
- Casual conversation: getting somewhere
- Skill development: improving
- Gradual development: making steady progress
- Measurable achievements: reaching milestones
- Reducing a disadvantage: closing the gap
- Cautious optimism: moving in the right direction
- Professional project update: making significant progress
- Schedule-related progress: staying on track
Frequently Asked Questions About Other Ways to Say “Making Progress”
What is another way to say “making progress”?
Some common alternatives include moving forward, making headway, making strides, advancing, moving ahead, gaining ground, improving, and getting somewhere. The best choice depends on the situation and the type of progress you want to describe.
What is a professional way to say “making progress”?
For professional writing, try advancing, making significant progress, making steady progress, making headway, reaching milestones, or moving forward as planned.
For example:
“The team has made significant progress toward completing the project.”
What is a positive way to say “making progress”?
Making strides, making significant progress, and making great strides sound particularly positive because they suggest noticeable or substantial improvement.
For example:
“The company has made great strides in improving customer service.”
What is a casual way to say “making progress”?
For casual conversation, getting somewhere, moving forward, coming along, and getting ahead can work well.
For example:
“I think we’re finally getting somewhere with this problem.”
What is another way to say “we are making progress”?
You could say:
- “We’re moving forward.”
- “We’re making headway.”
- “We’re making good progress.”
- “We’re making strides.”
- “We’re moving ahead.”
- “We’re getting somewhere.”
- “We’re advancing.”
- “We’re on track.”
- “We’re moving in the right direction.”
Is “making headway” the same as “making progress”?
Yes, the two expressions have very similar meanings. Dictionaries define make headway as making progress or moving forward.
However, making headway often carries a stronger sense of progress through difficulty or toward a challenging objective.
Is “making strides” stronger than “making progress”?
Usually, yes. Making strides commonly suggests important or noticeable positive development, while making progress can describe any amount of forward movement. Cambridge specifically describes make strides in terms of important positive development.
Can “moving forward” replace “making progress”?
Often, yes. Moving forward is one of the most flexible alternatives. However, it can emphasize continued movement or future action rather than the actual amount of progress already achieved.
Final Thoughts
The best other way to say “making progress” depends on the message behind the sentence.
If you want a safe, natural alternative, choose moving forward. When the task is difficult, making headway adds useful nuance. For noticeable improvement, making strides is stronger. In formal writing, advancing can sound cleaner and more professional. If you’re describing competition, gaining ground is more precise.
The biggest improvement, however, often comes from being specific.
Instead of simply saying:
“We’re making progress.”
tell the reader what changed:
“We’ve completed the first phase, solved the main technical issue, and moved into testing.”
When you choose alternatives based on the exact situation, your writing becomes clearer, more natural, and much more informative.
