process

1 of 4

noun

pro·​cess ˈprä-ˌses How to pronounce process (audio)
ˈprō-,
-səs How to pronounce process (audio)
plural processes ˈprä-ˌse-səz How to pronounce process (audio)
ˈprō-,
-sə-,
-ˌsēz How to pronounce process (audio)
1
a
: progress, advance
in the process of time
b
: something going on : proceeding
2
a(1)
: a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result
the process of growth
(2)
: a continuing natural or biological activity or function
such life processes as breathing
b
: a series of actions or operations conducing to an end
especially : a continuous operation or treatment especially in manufacture
3
a
: the whole course of proceedings in a legal action
b
: the summons, mandate, or writ used by a court to compel the appearance of the defendant in a legal action or compliance with its orders
4
: a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure
a bone process
a nerve cell process
5

process

2 of 4

verb (1)

processed; processing; processes

transitive verb

1
a
: to proceed against by law : prosecute
b(1)
: to take out a summons against
(2)
: to serve a summons on
2
a
: to subject to a special process or treatment (as in the course of manufacture or film development)
b(1)
: to subject to or handle through an established usually routine set of procedures
process insurance claims
(2)
: to integrate sensory information received so that an action or response is generated
the brain processes visual images relayed from the retina
(3)
: to subject to examination or analysis
computers process data
c
: to work (hair) into a conk

process

3 of 4

adjective

1
: treated or made by a special process especially when involving synthesis or artificial modification
2
: made by or used in a mechanical or photomechanical duplicating process
3
: of or involving illusory effects usually introduced during processing of the film

process

4 of 4

verb (2)

pro·​cess prə-ˈses How to pronounce process (audio)
processed; processing; processes

intransitive verb

chiefly British
: to move in a procession

Examples of process in a Sentence

Noun How does the election process work? Learning a foreign language can be a long process. We're remodeling our house. The whole process is expected to take a few months. Breathing and the circulation of blood are life processes. a bony process on the foot
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Was that the same process for the movie? Same process. James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024 The next administration will likely cut regulations on areas key to the tech industry, such as cryptocurrency mining, and hasten the process for permits related to nuclear energy, which companies expect to fuel artificial intelligence data centers. William Gavin, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
Absentee ballots take longer to process than ballots cast in-person due to the additional steps involved after a voter returns their absentee ballot to verify and log the ballot, and then prepare it for tabulation. Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024 State law allows election staff to start processing votes after accuracy tests are performed on tabulation equipment certifying the machines. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The Xe HPC device is a multi-tiled, multi-process-node package with new GPU cores, HBM2e memory, a new Xe Link interconnect, and PCIe Gen 5 implemented with over 100-billion transistors. Karl Freund, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2021 Regrind silicone used in the speaker is made by reclaiming and upcycling post-process and post-consumer silicone scraps that might otherwise end up in landfill. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2022 See all Example Sentences for process 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English proces, from Anglo-French procés, from Latin processus, from procedere

Verb (2)

back-formation from procession entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of process was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near process

Cite this Entry

“Process.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/process. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

process

1 of 2 noun
pro·​cess ˈpräs-ˌes How to pronounce process (audio) ˈprōs- How to pronounce process (audio)
-əs
plural processes -ˌes-əz How to pronounce process (audio) -ə-səz How to pronounce process (audio)
-ə-ˌsēz
1
a
: advance entry 2 sense 1
the process of time
b
: something going on
2
a
: a natural continuing action or series of actions or changes
the process of growth
life processes
mental processes
b
: a series of actions or operations leading to a result
a manufacturing process
3
: the carrying on of a legal action
due process of law
4
: a bodily part that sticks out or is conspicuous : outgrowth
a bony process

process

2 of 2 verb
1
: to change or prepare by special treatment
process foods
2
a
: to take care of according to a routine
process people looking for a job
process insurance claims
b
: to take in and organize for use in a variety of ways
computers process data
process information

Medical Definition

process

noun
pro·​cess ˈpräs-ˌes How to pronounce process (audio) ˈprōs- How to pronounce process (audio)
-əs
1
a
: a natural progressively continuing operation or development marked by a series of gradual changes that succeed one another in a relatively fixed way and lead toward a particular result or end
the process of growth
the process of digestion
b
: a natural continuing activity or function
such life processes as breathing and the circulation of the blood
2
: a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure
a bone process
a nerve cell process

Legal Definition

process

noun
1
: a continuous operation, art, or method especially in manufacture
whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process…may obtain a patent thereforU.S. Code
2
b
: a means (as a summons) used to compel a defendant to appear in court
broadly : a means by which a court acquires or exercises jurisdiction over a person or property see also mesne process compare notice, service

Note: In civil procedure, service of a summons on a defendant is considered constitutionally sufficient process, although usually a copy of the complaint must also be provided according to the local rule of procedure.

More from Merriam-Webster on process

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