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:
Noah Bell attended the Edgarstown event in support of the Portadown District and said he believed the situation was "really worrying" and wanted the parade to be allowed to proceed.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
But there is no consensus within the industry or among regulators on how to proceed.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
“As an independent entity, it is important for them to be able to proceed with the work that they deem appropriate,” McOsker said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Abbott’s office did not respond to a request for comment about guidance provided to local governments about how to proceed without state funding.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
He should proceed in such a manner, tempered by prudence and humanity, that too much trust may not render him incautious, nor too much suspicion render him insufferable.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
If you have $5 million invested elsewhere, the sale proceeds make up only 10% of your portfolio.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 3, 2026
The government says proceeds from hunting supports conservation and local development.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
Kaufmann, a former schoolteacher, first invested in Leica in 2004, using the roughly $1.7 billion proceeds of his family’s Austrian paper, pulp and packaging empire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
That chemistry proceeds relatively slowly in forests because the amount of terpenes in outdoor air is generally low.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
“Before this matter proceeds any further,” Lemuel interrupted, “What is the girl’s sin? What is she required to repent of?”
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Protestors, a few dozen, turned up outside the nearest tube stop waving flags as ticket holders streamed towards Lincoln Financial Field - but the concert proceeded largely unfettered.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
And with a chance to tie it up, Rutgers proceeded to go three-and-out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Investors listened, nodded solemnly—and then proceeded to buy more AI stocks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
The artificial-intelligence race also has proceeded at a stunning pace, driving the economy and adding to inflation.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 13, 2026
But for many people life proceeded without too much disruption, except in the regions where the pitched battles were fought.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
Such problems have occurred many other times, though generally they have not prevented executions from proceeding.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
After being filed, the lawsuit became part of a coordinated proceeding with actions brought by the California attorney general and the city attorneys of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Wilhelm said the artificial-intelligence build-out is proceeding in a different way from the dot-com boom that began to deflate in 2000.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
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
The carefully orchestrated proceeding faltered only once, when Neylan asked Serber a dangerous hypothetical question alluding to the case of Haakon Chevalier.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
