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
But if progress in robotics proceeds anywhere close to the speed of the wider AI industry, that wide distance may nevertheless be traversed in a short space of time. Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025 Actions taken by the federal government in 2025 that criminalize people experiencing homelessness, defund Housing First initiatives and dismantle Medicaid and other essential benefits threaten these partnerships and our progress. Sarah Stella, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
San Francisco will have a chance to be even scarier in the NFC if the roster can start to heal up as the season progresses. Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 Meanwhile, Malcolm is only getting drunker and more sullen as the reception progresses. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 10 Oct. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Progress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progress. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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
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