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.
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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
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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:
This is supposed to proceed in stages over six-to-12 months, as a Palestinian committee of technocrats and a new police force assume governing responsibility.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
There are so many out there who hit retirement after saving for their whole lives, and then don’t know how to proceed.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 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
I daresay it is only a rat scrambling along the rafters of the adjoining schoolroom: it was a barn before I had it repaired and altered, and barns are generally haunted by rats.—To proceed.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
The company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, said it would use the proceeds from part of the offering for “general corporate purposes” and to repay debts.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit declined to stay the injunction while the underlying case proceeds.
From Slate ● Jul. 30, 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
Whether he is sincere, it is a little hard to say: having emphasized his belief in miracles, he proceeds to make the concept of a miracle entirely subjective only a few paragraphs later.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
US negotiations with Canada have proceeded more slowly.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
Twice his application was given to a council officer who proceeded to leave during the process, which cost months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
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
Swiatek, a six-time major winner, lost just one of the first 17 points in the match as she proceeded to dismantle the Czech, racing into a four-game lead.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
When he felt he had enough, he proceeded to braid and weave the long fibers to form a continuous rope.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
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
Martínez-Olguín’s ruling is a first step toward potentially granting a preliminary injunction that would essentially stop the merger from proceeding during the case.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
His attorney, Frank Perez, has denied any such arrangement, a position he reiterated again during Monday’s court proceeding.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Investors may now feel the probability of Anthropic proceeding with its IPO this year is increasing.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
Surprisingly, despite the dead light and everything falling apart, the day in the Glade appeared to be proceeding business as usual—farming, gardening, cleaning.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
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.
