progressively

American  

[pruh-gres-iv-lee] / prəˈgrɛs ɪv li /

adverb

1. by degrees or stages; incrementally.

   If the disease remains unchecked, the rate of infection in the herd increases progressively over time.

   Over a five-year period, she became progressively weaker.

2. in a way characterized by or favoring improvement, reform, advances in social policy or conditions, more enlightened ideas, etc..

   Imagine a political party that actually wants America to be governed progressively.

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Other Word Forms

• nonprogressively adverb
• quasi-progressively adverb
• semiprogressively adverb
• ultraprogressively adverb
• unprogressively adverb

Etymology

Origin of progressively

progressive ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

His Sunday show appearances have grown progressively more painful to watch.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

Much like Wordle, the player gets to solve one cryptic crossword clue a day, the game becomes progressively harder as the week goes on.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

But Lilly has progressively integrated AI into its operations in a bid to get drugs to market sooner.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Part of this is accounted for by changing consumer habits since the pandemic as people are have spent progressively less time at home and returned to life outside.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

But that music had already reached such a point by 1913 presented progressively minded composers of symphonic orchestral music with a dilemma: where to go from here?

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• constantly
• continuously
• deliberately
• gently
• increasingly
• moderately
• regularly
• steadily