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progress Meaning & Definition

/ˈpɹəʊ.ɡɹɛs/

What Does Progress Mean?

As a noun, progress means Movement or advancement through a series of events, or points in time; development through time. It is also used to mean Specifically, advancement to a higher or more developed state; development, growth. As a verb, it means To move, go, or proceed forward; to advance. As a verb, it means To move (something) forward; to advance, to expedite.

Progress in Brief

Part of speechnoun, verb
Pronunciation//ˈpɹəʊ.ɡɹɛs//
Syllables1
Synonymsadvance, build and progression
Antonymsregress, retrograde and retrogress
Pluralprogresses
Verb formsprogresses, progressing, progressed

Progress Definition (Noun)

  1. Movement or advancement through a series of events, or points in time; development through time.

    Testing for the new antidote is currently in progress.

  2. Specifically, advancement to a higher or more developed state; development, growth.

    Science has made extraordinary progress in the last fifty years.

  3. An official journey made by a monarch or other high personage; a state journey, a circuit.
  4. A journey forward; travel.
  5. Movement onwards, forwards, or towards a specific objective or direction; advance.

    The thick branches overhanging the path made progress difficult.

Progress as a Verb

  1. To move, go, or proceed forward; to advance.

    Visitors progress through the museum at their own pace.

  2. To develop.

    Societies progress unevenly.

  3. To improve; to become better or more complete.
  4. To expedite.

Noun

  1. Movement onwards or forwards or towards a specific objective or direction; advance.

    The thick branches overhanging the path made progress difficult.

Verb

  1. To move (something) forward; to advance, to expedite.

Synonyms of Progress

Progress synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Progress

Progress in a Sentence

Testing for the new antidote is currently in progress.

Science has made extraordinary progress in the last fifty years.

The thick branches overhanging the path made progress difficult.

Visitors progress through the museum at their own pace.

Societies progress unevenly.

They progress through the museum.

Word Forms & Grammar

progress (usually uncountable, plural progresses)

progress (third-person singular simple present progresses, present participle progressing, simple past and past participle progressed)

Words That Rhyme With Progress

Origin of Progress

Origin 1: From Middle English progresse, from Old French progres (“a going forward”), from Latin prōgressus (“an advance”), from the participle stem of prōgredī (“to go forward, advance, develop”), from pro- (“forth, before”) +‎ gradi (“to walk, go”). Displaced native Old English forþgang.

Origin 2: From the noun. Lapsed into disuse in the 17th century, except in the US. Considered an Americanism on reintroduction to use in the UK.

How to Pronounce Progress

The standard pronunciation of progress is //ˈpɹəʊ.ɡɹɛs//, spoken in 1 syllable.

Questions People Ask About Progress

Is progress a noun or a verb?

Progress is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.

What is another word for progress?

Close synonyms of progress are advance, build and progression. See the full list of progress synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of progress?

Antonyms of progress include regress, retrograde, retrogress and recede.

What is the plural of progress?

The plural of progress is progresses.

What is the past tense of progress?

The past tense of progress is progressed. The present participle is progressing.

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