progress

American  

[prog-res, -ruhs, proh-gres, pruh-gres] / ˈprɒg rɛs, -rəs, ˈproʊ grɛs, prəˈgrɛs /

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.

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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

idioms

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

   The meeting was already in progress.

progress British  

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

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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

progress More Idioms  

1. see in progress.

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Other Word Forms

• unprogressed adjective

Etymology

Origin of progress

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

Example Sentences

BBC Verify has looked at four key measures to assess whether progress is being made – and whether it is fair to compare Scotland's health service with other UK nations.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

President Donald Trump updated Americans on the progress of the Iran war in an address to the nation on Wednesday night.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

While stocks have made solid progress over the past two days, the S&P 500 was still trading below its 200-day moving average in recent trading on Wednesday.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

“The big question is whether we’re getting anything in return that makes progress toward a genuine democratic transition,” Ramsey said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The waters are gentle & as I watch the clouds slide by in the sky, it looks like we are making good progress, about 7 knots per hour.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman

Related Words

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