proceed
Americanverb (used without object)
-
proceeds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
proceeded,
past participle, past
-
proceeding
present participle
-
to move or go forward or onward, especially after stopping.
- Antonyms:
- recede
-
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
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has proceededperfect
-
am proceedingprogressive
-
are proceedingprogressive
-
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:
"This review will prioritise those individuals who are further along the pathway to allow appropriate referrals to proceed as soon as possible," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
His Las Vegas residency at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas is expected to proceed as planned, starting Oct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
“But whether or not that happens, it definitely seems there are other avenues that we can continue to grow and proceed in.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
"At that time, I was discussing working with someone else on a proposed business, but once I became aware of the situation, that proposed arrangement did not proceed."
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
“I mean,—What next? How did you proceed? What came of such an event?”
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
The restraining order will be in effect for 14-days as the litigation proceeds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
“I want to be sure that the LLC proceeds with the ideas we discussed — giving scholarships and recognition to women in engineering, etc.,” wrote Mitchell.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
Higher up, you might arrange a bank loan or seller financing, paying the owner back out of the business’s proceeds over time.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
It isn’t clear where the remainder of the proceeds are.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
The proceeds, $17.02, were turned over to Mrs. Anderson to be used for anything Marian needed.
From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman
At the same time, the school district has proceeded full force into its ongoing school reconstruction and modernization program, which voters buttressed in November 2024 with $9 billion in bonds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
The artificial-intelligence race also has proceeded at a stunning pace, driving the economy and adding to inflation.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 13, 2026
The Rams proceeded to demolish Jacksonville, a team that made the postseason, 35-7.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Djokovic proceeded to win four of the following five Grand Slams, doubling his tally of majors with 12 across the next six years.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
She slowly helped me off the cabinet door and proceeded to have a panic attack.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
The Tates' lawyers have argued they should be released on bail pending their extradition proceeding, saying the brothers were not a flight risk and did not pose a danger to the community.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
State media later said the risk from that lake was "decreasing" and rescue operations were proceeding "in an orderly manner".
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
Many of the administration’s civil probes have been proceeding under a novel use of the False Claims Act.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
The lawsuit seeks emergency relief to stop the agency’s early renewal proceeding and any resulting threat against ABC’s station licenses.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
At this point, things stopped proceeding at such a leisurely pace.
From "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" by Kate DiCamillo
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.
