progressive

[ pruh-gres-iv ]

/ prəˈgrɛs ɪv /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR progressive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are, especially in political matters: a progressive mayor.

making progress toward better conditions; employing or advocating more enlightened or liberal ideas, new or experimental methods, etc.: a progressive community.

characterized by such progress, or by continuous improvement.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to any of the Progressive parties in politics.

going forward or onward; passing successively from one member of a series to the next; proceeding step by step.

noting or pertaining to a form of taxation in which the rate increases with certain increases in taxable income.

of or relating to progressive education: progressive schools.

Grammar. noting a verb aspect or other verb category that indicates action or state going on at a temporal point of reference.

Medicine/Medical. continuously increasing in extent or severity, as a disease.

noun

a person who is progressive or who favors progress or reform, especially in political matters.

(initial capital letter) a member of a Progressive party.

Grammar.

the progressive aspect.
a verb form or construction in the progressive, as are thinking in They are thinking about it.

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to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Origin of progressive

First recorded in 1600–10; progress + -ive

SYNONYMS FOR progressive

1, 9 liberal.

5 successive.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR progressive ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM progressive

pro·gres·sive·ly, adverbpro·gres·sive·ness, pro·gres·siv·i·ty

[proh-gre-siv-i-tee], /ˌproʊ grɛˈsɪv ɪ ti/, nounan·ti·pro·gres·sive, adjectivenon·pro·gres·sive, adjective, noun

non·pro·gres·sive·ly, adverbnon·pro·gres·sive·ness, nounqua·si-pro·gres·sive, adjectivequa·si-pro·gres·sive·ly, adverbsem·i·pro·gres·sive, adjective, nounsem·i·pro·gres·sive·ly, adverbsem·i·pro·gres·sive·ness, nounul·tra·pro·gres·sive, adjective, nounul·tra·pro·gres·sive·ly, adverbul·tra·pro·gres·sive·ness, nounun·pro·gres·sive, adjectiveun·pro·gres·sive·ly, adverbun·pro·gres·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for progressive

Years later, he got a high-profile job at Mozilla, a tech company in a professional community noted for its progressiveness.
In Gay Rights Fights, Bullies Love to Play the Victim|Tim Teeman|April 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In this mood, Democrats may care a lot more about toughness and combativeness than about minute gradations of progressiveness.
How Obama is Setting the Stage for Hillary in 2016|David Frum|September 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It tries for progressiveness and ends up being ... achingly middle of the road.
Fall-Winter TV Preview: Snap Judgments of 2013–14’s New Shows|Jace Lacob, Kevin Fallon|July 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It has character, whatever it may lack in progressiveness, and the brilliant colouring is a part of all the cities of the South.
Castles and Chateaux of Old Navarre and the Basque Provinces|Francis Miltoun

Mr Barrett—I think there have been some references to progressiveness and insurgency.
Proceedings of the Second National Conservation Congress|Various
The house enjoys a most enviable reputation for progressiveness and reliability, for promptness and efficiency.
Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 1 (of 2)|William Denison Lyman
We noticed a characteristic lack of progressiveness in so many respects.
Europe from a Motor Car|Russell Richardson
I believe in conservatism, but at the same time I am opposed to conservatism which excludes all progressiveness.
Great Pianists on Piano Playing|James Francis Cooke

British Dictionary definitions for progressive (1 of 2)

progressive

/ (prəˈɡrɛsɪv) /

adjective

of or relating to progress

proceeding or progressing by steps or degrees

(often capital) favouring or promoting political or social reform through government action, or even revolution, to improve the lot of the majoritya progressive policy

denoting or relating to an educational system that allows flexibility in learning procedures, based on activities determined by the needs and capacities of the individual child, the aim of which is to integrate academic with social development

(of a tax or tax system) graduated so that the rate increases relative to the amount taxedCompare regressive (def. 2)

(esp of a disease) advancing in severity, complexity, or extent

(of a dance, card game, etc) involving a regular change of partners after one figure, one game, etc

denoting an aspect of verbs in some languages, including English, used to express prolonged or continuous activity as opposed to momentary or habitual activitya progressive aspect of the verb ``to walk'' is ``is walking.''

noun

a person who advocates progress, as in education, politics, etc

the progressive aspect of a verb
a verb in this aspect

Derived forms of progressive

progressively, adverbprogressiveness, nounprogressivism, nounprogressivist, noun

British Dictionary definitions for progressive (2 of 2)

Progressive

/ (prəˈɡrɛsɪv) /

noun

US history a member or supporter of a Progressive Party

Canadian history a member or supporter of a chiefly agrarian reform movement advocating the nationalization of railways, low tariffs, an end to party politics, and similar measures: important in the early 1920s

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of a Progressive Party, Progressive movement, or Progressives

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

Medical definitions for progressive

progressive

[ prə-grĕs′ĭv ]

adj.

Moving forward; advancing.

Proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments, as of a course of treatment.

Tending to become more severe or wider in scope, as of a disease or paralysis.

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Origin of progressive

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Example sentences from the Web for progressive

British Dictionary definitions for progressive (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of progressive

British Dictionary definitions for progressive (2 of 2)

noun

adjective

Medical definitions for progressive

adj.

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progressive

adjective

noun

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Origin of progressive

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Example sentences from the Web for progressive

British Dictionary definitions for progressive (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of progressive

British Dictionary definitions for progressive (2 of 2)

noun

adjective

Medical definitions for progressive

adj.