a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage: the progress of a student toward a degree.
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.
advancement in general.
growth or development; continuous improvement: He shows progress in his muscular coordination.
the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.
Biology. increasing differentiation and perfection in the course of ontogeny or phylogeny.
forward or onward movement: the progress of the planets.
the forward course of action, events, time, etc.
an official journey or tour, as by a sovereign or dignitary.
verb (used without object)pro·gress[pruh-gres] /prəˈgrɛs/
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.
to grow or develop, as in complexity, scope, or severity; advance: Are you progressing in your piano studies? The disease progressed slowly.
Idioms for progress
in progress, going on; under way; being done; happening: The meeting was already in progress.
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”; see pro-1, grade) + -tus suffix of verb action
SYNONYMS FOR progress
1 advance, progression.
4 increase; betterment.
11 proceed; develop, improve, grow, increase.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR progress ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR progress
1 regression.
11 regress.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR progress ON THESAURUS.COM
historical usage of progress
The English word progress (both noun and verb) has a curious history. The noun, which has been in English since the 15th century, ultimately comes from the Latin noun prōgressus “forward movement, advance (to a better place or state), growth, increase (as of years).” (Latin prōgressus is from the verb prōgredī “to come or go forward, advance, proceed, mature, grow old”). The verb progress entered English in the second half of the 16th century in a functional shift of the noun to a verb (a functional shift, also called functional change, is a change in the grammatical function of a word, such as the noun fun having taken on adjective meanings). In the 18th century, the verb progress was no longer common in Britain, but was used with regularity in the United States (George Washington, in a letter of 1791 writes, “The business of laying out the city [the new capital] is progressing.”) When the verb reentered British usage about 1800, it was regarded as an Americanism. From its first appearance in English, the noun had the meaning “onward movement in space,” as well as the figurative sense “advancement to a further or higher stage”; from this developed the more specific reference to social and economic reform leading to a better state or condition.
OTHER WORDS FROM progress
un·pro·gressed,adjective
Words nearby progress
program statement, program, to, program trading, progravid, Progreso, progress, progress bar, progress chaser, progression, progressionist, progressist
Tractable problems are ones where we can actually make progress right now.
Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money.|Sigal Samuel|September 17, 2020|Vox
It’s a core demand for justice, and the fact that the system does not work that way makes it exceptionally difficult to make enduring progress on any economic, racial, or environmental justice topic.
America needs a democratic revolution|Matthew Yglesias|September 17, 2020|Vox
This is the same arrangement lawmakers have worked under for more than a month without any progress.
Frustrated House Democrats push for action on new economic relief bill|Erica Werner|September 15, 2020|Washington Post
An arbitration panel found in July that Bridgewater had brought a theft of trade secrets case against the pair under false pretenses to slow down their progress.
The losses continue to pile up for hedge fund king Ray Dalio|Bernhard Warner|September 15, 2020|Fortune
Other trends highlighted in the report hint that progress may be on the horizon.
Nearly half of open board seats went to women in 2019. Only 23% were filled by people of color|ehinchliffe|September 10, 2020|Fortune
France 24 is providing live, round-the-clock coverage of both scenes as they progress.
LIVE Coverage of the Paris Terror Attacks||January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We are committed to the community, dedicated to progress, and policing with respect.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation|Michael Daly|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I thought I could progress in a much quicker pace and in much more meaningful ways if I was here,” she explained.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Also this week, he keynoted a fundraiser for Progress Iowa, an influential liberal group in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.
Why the Left Loves Warren, But Won’t Swoon for Sanders|David Freedlander|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But I am deeply concerned with the lack of progress in my case and feel that I must take some action.
An American Marine in Iran’s Prisons Goes on Hunger Strike|IranWire|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Morse was a faithful teacher and took as much interest in our progress as—more indeed than—we did ourselves.
The Age of Invention|Holland Thompson
Providence has ordained it otherwise, and death arrests my progress.
Tales of My Time, Vol. 1 (of 3)|William Pitt Scargill
Had man been placed in the world perfected and sinless, obviously there would be no such thing as progress.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 2|Hubert Howe Bancroft
The imagination hardly keeps pace with the progress of population, improvement, and civilization.
Select Speeches of Daniel Webster|Daniel Webster
But a somewhat closer reflection will show that there are at least two points in which a possibility of progress may be admitted.
Studies in Modern Music, Second Series|W. H. Hadow
British Dictionary definitions for progress
progress
noun (ˈprəʊɡrɛs)
movement forwards, esp towards a place or objective
satisfactory development, growth, or advanceshe is making progress in maths
advance towards completion, maturity, or perfectionthe steady onward march of progress
(modifier)of or relating to progressa progress report
biologyincreasing complexity, adaptation, etc, during the development of an individual or evolution of a group
Britisha stately royal journey
in progresstaking place; under way
verb (prəˈɡrɛs)
(intr)to move forwards or onwards, as towards a place or objective
to move towards or bring nearer to completion, maturity, or perfection
Word Origin for progress
C15: from Latin prōgressus a going forwards, from prōgredī to advance, from pro-1 + gradī to step