progress

[prog-res, -ruhs, proh-gres, pruh-gres]

noun

1. a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage.

   the progress of a student toward a degree.

   Synonyms: progression, advance
   Antonyms: regression

2. developmental activity in science, technology, etc., especially with reference to the commercial opportunities created thereby or to the promotion of the material well-being of the public through the goods, techniques, or facilities created.

3. advancement in general.

4. growth or development; continuous improvement.

   He shows progress in his muscular coordination.

   Synonyms: betterment, increase

5. the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.

6. Biology.,  increasing differentiation and perfection in the course of ontogeny or phylogeny.

7. forward or onward movement.

   the progress of the planets.

8. the forward course of action, events, time, etc.

9. an official journey or tour, as by a sovereign or dignitary.

verb (used without object)

1. to go forward or onward in space or time.

   The wagon train progressed through the valley. As the play progressed, the leading man grew more inaudible.

2. to grow or develop, as in complexity, scope, or severity; advance.

   Are you progressing in your piano studies? The disease progressed slowly.

   Synonyms: increase, grow, improve, develop, proceed
   Antonyms: regress

progress

noun

1. movement forwards, esp towards a place or objective

2. satisfactory development, growth, or advance

   she is making progress in maths

3. advance towards completion, maturity, or perfection

   the steady onward march of progress

4. (modifier) of or relating to progress

   a progress report

5. biology increasing complexity, adaptation, etc, during the development of an individual or evolution of a group

6. a stately royal journey

7. taking place; under way

verb

1. (intr) to move forwards or onwards, as towards a place or objective

2. to move towards or bring nearer to completion, maturity, or perfection

Other Word Forms

• unprogressed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of progress¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English progresse (noun), from Latin prōgressus “a going forward,” equivalent to prōgred-, stem of prōgredī “to advance” ( prō- “advancing, projecting forward” + -gredī, combining form of gradī “to step”; pro- ¹, grade ) + -tus suffix of verb action

Word History and Origins

Origin of progress¹

C15: from Latin prōgressus a going forwards, from prōgredī to advance, from _pro- ¹ + gradī to step

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in progress, going on; under way; being done; happening.

   The meeting was already in progress.

see in progress.

Example Sentences

Since then, astronomers have used ground-based and space telescopes to monitor its progress and discover more about it.

Read more on Science Daily

In the three months before then, Sasaki and the Dodgers had finally started making progress.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For the most part, the award has become a generalized tribute to activists for human rights and democracy or symbols of progress, at least as those things are defined by a committee of upper-crust Norwegians.

Read more on Salon

They put the team above themselves and don’t fight for credit because their priority is progress, not attention.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Scientists have now made significant progress toward that goal with support from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• advance 
• breakthrough 
• development 
• evolution 
• growth 
• headway 
• improvement 
• increase 
• momentum 
• movement 
• pace 
• process 
• rise 
• stride