proceed
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to move or go forward or onward, especially after stopping.
- Antonyms:
- recede
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to carry on or continue any action or process.
-
to go on to do something.
-
to continue one's discourse.
-
Law.
-
to begin and carry on a legal action.
-
to take legal action (usually followed byagainst ).
-
-
to be carried on, as an action or process.
-
to go or come forth; issue (often followed byfrom ).
- Synonyms:
- emanate
-
to arise, originate, or result (usually followed byfrom ).
noun
-
proceeds,
-
something that results or accrues.
-
the total amount derived from a sale or other transaction.
The proceeds from the deal were divided equally among us.
-
the profits or returns from a sale, investment, etc.
-
-
Archaic. proceeds.
verb
-
(often foll by to) to advance or carry on, esp after stopping
-
(often foll by with) to undertake and continue (something or to do something)
he proceeded with his reading
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(often foll by against) to institute or carry on a legal action
-
to emerge or originate; arise
evil proceeds from the heart
Synonym Usage
See advance.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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proceedsimple
-
proceedssimple
-
have proceededperfect
-
has proceededperfect
-
am proceedingprogressive
-
are proceedingprogressive
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is proceedingprogressive
-
have been proceedingperfect progressive
-
has been proceedingperfect progressive
Past
-
proceededsimple
-
had proceededperfect
-
was proceedingprogressive
-
were proceedingprogressive
-
had been proceedingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of proceed
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English procede, from Latin prōcēdere; see pro- 1, cede
Explanation
To proceed means to go or continue forward. But somehow "ready, set, proceed!" doesn't quite have the same ring to it. From the Latin procedere, meaning “go forward, advance,” proceed is a verb that simply means to keep going, particularly after there’s been an interruption. Synonyms include progress and advance. People who constantly interrupt make it really difficult for the conversation to proceed smoothly. And proceed with caution when crossing a busy street, but if the light turns red, you better move it fast!
Vocabulary lists containing proceed
Power Prefix: pro
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Beowulf vocabulary
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UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Infantino releases statement at about 00:30 BST on Saturday, saying the plan will not proceed.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
“With that scheduling pressure and overwhelmed by misgivings about getting the abortion—what if I wanted to proceed but couldn’t later?—I took the first of two pills for a chemical abortion.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
After Burke’s attorneys make an argument to dismiss the charges, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo will rule whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to proceed to trial.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Citi strategists said that, while they are positive on stocks through month-end at least, investors should proceed cautiously.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
“Yesterday was a bit of a muddle, but I believe I have the hang of things now. After the post office we will proceed to Buckingham Palace.”
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit declined to stay the injunction while the underlying case proceeds.
From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026
Last week, the company completed a sale-leaseback deal for 26 stores, bringing in around $77 million in proceeds.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
But many of the grantees are now in “purgatory” as the case proceeds toward a final ruling, Polsky said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
The proceeds will help fund Naver’s AI factory project, which includes an AI data center in South Korea and other computing infrastructure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
One woman seats me in a chair and proceeds to put my hair in small rollers.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
The “Charlie’s Angels” star proceeded to pose next to the petite kitchen, which comes complete with a stove and sink.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
Despite blood appearing through his white shoes, he proceeded to level the match for a second time with a fourth straight game on his opponent's serve.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
As the work proceeded, Palacios sipped water and watched nervously.
From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026
At first, it was just the two boys in the backseat who sat on the window ledge as it proceeded eastbound, according to Shahsavani, who estimated the pair were 12 to 14 years old.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
My work, which had appeared so vague, so hopelessly diffuse, condensed itself as he proceeded, and assumed a definite form under his shaping hand.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
GSK said it had taken a hit totalling £1.3 billion after not proceeding further with camlipixant following final stage trials.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
“When there is a large degree of uncertainty and the stakes are this high, proceeding with cautious optimism is the sensible and correct strategy,” Hassabis wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
“Where we’re at right now, how we’re proceeding, I would say that it’s going to be some time,” Roberts said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Investors may now feel the probability of Anthropic proceeding with its IPO this year is increasing.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
Over the next three years, the hard disk of his memory slowly began to be erased, beginning with the most recent information and proceeding backward.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
