progress

1 of 2

noun

prog·​ress ˈprä-grəs How to pronounce progress (audio)
-ˌgres,
 US also and British usually  ˈprō-ˌgres
1
a(1)
: a royal journey marked by pomp and pageant
(2)
: a state procession
b
: a tour or circuit made by an official (such as a judge)
c
: an expedition, journey, or march through a region
2
: a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal) : advance
3
: gradual betterment
especially : the progressive development of humankind

progress

2 of 2

verb

pro·​gress prə-ˈgres How to pronounce progress (audio)
progressed; progressing; progresses

intransitive verb

1
: to move forward : proceed
2
: to develop to a higher, better, or more advanced stage
Phrases
in progress
: going on : occurring

Examples of progress in a Sentence

Noun the rapid progress of the ship He made slow progress down the steep cliff. The project showed slow but steady progress. Verb The project has been progressing slowly. The work is progressing and should be completed soon. The caravan progressed slowly across the desert.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service have made some progress with thinning and prescribed burns in forests, but much more needs to be done after decades of fire suppression has allowed too much dead wood and brush to build up, especially with climate change increasing temperatures, Stephens said. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024 Firefighters have made great progress since then, Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said Monday. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
Building off this focus on technique, a good strength training program for youth should progress from simple movements to more complex movements and lighter weights to heavier weights, taking into consideration that not all youth will adapt at the same rate. Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024 As the season progresses, he is projected to be among the league leaders in sacks by the end of the year. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for progress 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French progrés, from Latin progressus advance, from progredi to go forth, from pro- forward + gradi to go — more at pro-, grade entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of progress was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near progress

Cite this Entry

“Progress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progress. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

progress

1 of 2 noun
prog·​ress ˈpräg-rəs How to pronounce progress (audio)
-ˌres,
 chiefly British  ˈprō-ˌgres
1
: a moving toward a goal
the progress of a ship
2
: gradual improvement or advancement
the progress of science

progress

2 of 2 verb
pro·​gress prə-ˈgres How to pronounce progress (audio)
1
: to move forward : advance, proceed
the story progressed
how is the experiment progressing?
2
: to move toward a higher, better, or more advanced stage

More from Merriam-Webster on progress

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!