progress

1 of 2

noun

prog·​ress ˈprä-grəs 

-ˌgres,

 US also and British usually  ˈprō-ˌgres

1

a(1)

: a royal journey marked by pomp and pageant

(2)

: a state procession

b

: a tour or circuit made by an official (such as a judge)

c

: an expedition, journey, or march through a region

2

: a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal) : advance

3

: gradual betterment

especially : the progressive development of humankind

progress

2 of 2

verb

pro·​gress prə-ˈgres 

progressed; progressing; progresses

intransitive verb

1

: to move forward : proceed

2

: to develop to a higher, better, or more advanced stage

Phrases

in progress

: going on : occurring

Synonyms

Noun

• advance
• advancement
• furtherance
• going
• headway
• march
• onrush
• passage
• process
• procession
• progression

Verb

• age
• develop
• grow
• grow up
• mature
• ripen

Examples of progress in a Sentence

Noun

the rapid progress of the ship

He made slow progress down the steep cliff.

The project showed slow but steady progress.

Verb

The project has been progressing slowly.

The work is progressing and should be completed soon.

The caravan progressed slowly across the desert.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service have made some progress with thinning and prescribed burns in forests, but much more needs to be done after decades of fire suppression has allowed too much dead wood and brush to build up, especially with climate change increasing temperatures, Stephens said. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

Firefighters have made great progress since then, Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said Monday. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024

Verb

If Swiatek and Krejcikova win, Swiatek will progress as the group winner and Pegula will be knocked out. —Manasi Pathak, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

As the technology has progressed, however, the rules governing shipwrecks have tightened considerably. —Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French progrés, from Latin progressus advance, from progredi to go forth, from pro- forward + gradi to go — more at pro-, grade entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing progress

• make progress
• progress report
• work in progress

Kids Definition

progress

1 of 2 noun

prog·​ress ˈpräg-rəs 

-ˌres,

 chiefly British  ˈprō-ˌgres

1

: a moving toward a goal

the progress of a ship

2

: gradual improvement or advancement

the progress of science

progress

2 of 2 verb

pro·​gress prə-ˈgres 

1

: to move forward : advance, proceed

the story progressed

how is the experiment progressing?

2

: to move toward a higher, better, or more advanced stage