process

[ pros-es; especially British proh-ses ]

/ ˈprɒs ɛs; especially British ˈproʊ sɛs /

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See synonyms for: process / processed / processes / processing on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural proc·ess·es

[pros-es-iz, ‐uh-siz, ‐uh-seez or, especially British, proh-ses-iz, proh-suh-seez]. /ˈprɒs ɛs ɪz, ‐ə sɪz, ‐əˌsiz or, especially British, ˈproʊ sɛs ɪz, ˈproʊ sə siz/.

a systematic series of actions directed to some end: to devise a process for homogenizing milk.

a continuous action, operation, or series of changes taking place in a definite manner: the process of decay.

Law.

the summons, mandate, or writ by which a defendant or thing is brought before court for litigation.
the whole course of the proceedings in an action at law.

Photography. photomechanical or photoengraving methods collectively.

Biology, Anatomy. a natural outgrowth, projection, or appendage: a process of a bone.

the action of going forward or on.

the condition of being carried on.

course or lapse, as of time.

conk⁴ (defs. 1, 2).

verb (used with object)

to treat or prepare by some particular series of actions, as in manufacturing.

to handle (papers, records, etc.) by systematically organizing them, recording or making notations on them, following up with appropriate action, or the like:to process mail.

to mentally or emotionally deal with and make sense of: Cognitive therapy can be helpful in processing traumatic events and experiences.The disease affects the brain's ability to process bodily sensations.

to require (someone) to answer questionnaires, perform various tasks, and sometimes to undergo physical and aptitude classification examinations before the beginning or termination of a period of service: The army processes all personnel entering or leaving the service.

to convert (an agricultural commodity) into marketable form by a special series of steps, as pasteurization.

to institute a legal process against; prosecute.

to serve a process or summons on.

Computers. to carry out operations on (data or programs).

conk⁴ (def. 3).

verb (used without object)

to deal with something mentally or emotionally and make sense of it: That movie completely blew me away—I’m still processing a week later.

to undergo administrative activities involved in hiring or firing personnel, organizing and reviewing information to make a decision, etc.: The recruits are expected to process in four days.Your application for admission is still processing, but you should hear from us shortly.

adjective

prepared or modified by an artificial process or procedure: process cheese.

noting, pertaining to, or involving photomechanical or photoengraving methods: a process print.

Informal. of or relating to hair that has been conked, or chemically straightened.

Movies. created by or used in process cinematography: a moving background on a process screen.

OTHER WORDS FOR process

1 operation.

See synonyms for process on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of process

First recorded in 1275–1325; from Middle English proces (noun), from Old French, from Latin prōcessus “a going forward,” equivalent to prō- pro-¹ + ced-, variant stem of cēdere “to yield” + -tus suffix of verbal action, with dt >ss ; see cede,cession

synonym study for process

1. Process, procedure, proceeding apply to something that goes on or takes place. A process is a series of progressive and interdependent steps by which an end is attained: a chemical process. Procedure usually implies a formal or set order of doing a thing, a method of conducting affairs: parliamentary procedure. Proceeding (usually pl.) applies to what goes on or takes place on a given occasion or to the records of the occasion: Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Sciences.

how to pronounce process

The word process, an early 14th century French borrowing, has a regularly formed plural that adds -es to the singular. This plural, as in similar words like recesses and successes, has traditionally been pronounced

[-iz]: /-ɪz/:

[pros-es-iz, proh-ses-] /ˈprɒs ɛs ɪz, ˈproʊ sɛs-/ or

[pros-uh-siz, proh-suh-]. /ˈprɒs ə sɪz, ˈproʊ sə-/. Recent years have seen the increasing popularity of an

[-eez] /-ˌiz/ pronunciation for processes, perhaps by mistaken analogy with such plurals as theses and hypotheses, with which it has no connection. Although this newer pronunciation is increasingly common, it is regarded by some educated speakers as an affectation.

OTHER WORDS FROM process

pro·ces·su·al

[pro-sesh-oo-uhl or, especially British, proh-], /prɒˈsɛʃ u əl or, especially British, proʊ-/, adjectiveo·ver·proc·ess, verb (used with object)pre·proc·ess, verbre·proc·ess, verb (used with object)

sem·i·proc·essed, adjectivetrans·proc·ess, nounun·proc·essed, adjective

Words nearby process

proceleusmatic, procellas, procellous, procephalic, procercoid, process, process camera, process cinematography, process colour, process costing, processed cheese

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say process?

A process is a systematic series of actions directed to some end. When should you use this noun over procedure or proceeding? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

How to use process in a sentence

We had a lot of new rules to process, there were a lot of positive tests and there was a fear factor for people who were flying again.
The NBA’s week of controversies show how hard life is outside of the bubble|Ben Golliver|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
It’s the process of optimizing your video to be indexed so that it ranks on the results pages for keyword searches.
A comprehensive guide on using Google Trends for keyword research|Aayush Gupta|February 12, 2021|Search Engine Watch
So this should make the process of responding to customers easier for some businesses.
Google My Business adds messaging to desktop interface|Barry Schwartz|February 11, 2021|Search Engine Land
The process to become CPSC certified involves tests that are largely based on ones created in the 1950s by the Snell Memorial Foundation.
The Trek WaveCel Helmet Lawsuit, Explained|Joe Lindsey|February 10, 2021|Outside Online

Unfortunately, getting the most out of your PPC bidding can be a tricky process, to say the least.
Smart Bidding: Five ways machine learning improves PPC advertising|Gabrielle Sadeh|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Watch
In the process, we get straightjacketed into emotionally distant, competitive lives.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Or how much richer a few rich Mexicans are going to get in the process?
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Then we all have to do our part to engage the officers and our community, and hold everyone accountable in the process.
How to Solve the Policing Crisis|Keli Goff|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“The process of getting the approval is too slow and is too cumbersome,” Rogers said.
ISIS Fight Has a Spy Shortage, Intel Chair Says|Kimberly Dozier|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The process of co-opting black music and selling it back to the adoring public in whiteface is as American as apple pie.
The Cultural Crimes of Iggy Azalea|Amy Zimmerman|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On certain of the stems the fertile cone appears and the spores are ripened about June, after which the process withers.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
By the second process, it is made to the advantage of the issuer of the notes to hasten their withdrawal himself.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
The quickening of one part of the process necessitated the "speeding up" of all the others.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
That, too, is a process which in this changing new world of ours can never be completed.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
A smile of beatitude spread over his enormous countenance during the process.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

British Dictionary definitions for process (1 of 2)

process¹

/ (ˈprəʊsɛs) /

noun

a series of actions that produce a change or developmentthe process of digestion

a method of doing or producing something

a forward movement

the course of time

a summons, writ, etc, commanding a person to appear in court
the whole proceedings in an action at law

a natural outgrowth or projection of a part, organ, or organism

a distinct subtask of a computer system which can be regarded as proceeding in parallel with other subtasks of the system

(modifier) relating to the general preparation of a printing forme or plate by the use, at some stage, of photography

(modifier) denoting a film, film scene, shot, etc, made by techniques that produce unusual optical effects

verb (tr)

to subject to a routine procedure; handle

to treat or prepare by a special method, esp to treat (food) in order to preserve itto process cheese

to institute legal proceedings against
to serve a process on

photog

to develop, rinse, fix, wash, and dry (exposed film, etc)
to produce final prints or slides from (undeveloped film)

computing to perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information

to prepare (food) using a food processor

Word Origin for process

C14: from Old French procès, from Latin prōcessus an advancing, from prōcēdere to proceed

British Dictionary definitions for process (2 of 2)

process²

/ (prəˈsɛs) /

verb

(intr) to proceed in or as if in a procession

Word Origin for process

C19: back formation from procession

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

process

OTHER WORDS FOR process

Origin of process

synonym study for process

how to pronounce process

OTHER WORDS FROM process

Words nearby process

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say process?

Words related to process

How to use process in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for process (1 of 2)

Word Origin for process

British Dictionary definitions for process (2 of 2)

Word Origin for process