progressive

¹pro·gres·sive

adjective \prə-ˈgre-siv\

Definition of PROGRESSIVE

1

a : of, relating to, or characterized by progress

b : making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities

c : of, relating to, or constituting an educational theory marked by emphasis on the individual child, informality of classroom procedure, and encouragement of self-expression

2

: of, relating to, or characterized by progression

3

: moving forward or onward : advancing

4

a : increasing in extent or severity <a progressive disease>

b : increasing in rate as the base increases <a progressive tax>

5

often capitalized : of or relating to political Progressives

6

: of, relating to, or constituting a verb form that expresses action or state in progress at the time of speaking or a time spoken of

7

: of, relating to, or being a multifocal lens with a gradual transition between focal lengths <progressive bifocals>

8

: or, relating to, or using a method of video scanning (as for television or a computer monitor) in which the horizontal lines of each frame are drawn successively from top to bottom — compare interlaced

— pro·gres·sive·ly adverb

— pro·gres·sive·ness noun

Examples of PROGRESSIVE

1. the progressive movements of the hands of a clock
2. <progressive forms of animal life>

First Known Use of PROGRESSIVE

circa 1612

Related to PROGRESSIVE

Synonyms

developed, evolved, forward, high, higher, improved, late, advanced, refined

Antonyms

backward, low, lower, nonprogressive, primitive, retarded, rude, rudimentary, undeveloped

Related Words

precocious; full-blown, full-fledged, full-scale; aged, grown, mature, matured, perfected, ripe, ripened; civilized, educated, enhanced, enlightened; contemporary, current, cutting-edge, latest, leading-edge, mod, modern, new, newest, newfangled, new-fashioned, novel, now, present-day, recent, space-age, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date

Near Antonyms

green, immature, underdeveloped, undersized (also undersize), underweight, unripe, unripened; savage, uncivilized, uneducated; early, embryonic, germinal, primeval, primordial; antediluvian, antiquated, antique, dated, fusty, hoary, musty, Neanderthal (or Neandertal), obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, past

Rhymes with PROGRESSIVE

aggressive, caressive, compressive, concessive, degressive, depressive, digressive, excessive, expressive, impressive, ingressive, obsessive, oppressive, possessive, recessive, regressive, successive, suppressive, transgressive

²progressive

noun

Definition of PROGRESSIVE

1

a : one that is progressive

b : one believing in moderate political change and especially social improvement by governmental action

2

capitalized : a member of any of various United States political parties: as

a : a member of a predominantly agrarian minor party that around 1912 split off from the Republicans; specifically : bull moose

b : a follower of Robert M. La Follette in the presidential campaign of 1924

c : a follower of Henry A. Wallace in the presidential campaign of 1948

Examples of PROGRESSIVE

1. “Believe” is never used in the progressive.

First Known Use of PROGRESSIVE

1846

Rhymes with PROGRESSIVE

depressive, ingressive, obsessive, possessive, recessive

pro·gres·sive

adjective \prə-ˈgres-iv\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of PROGRESSIVE

1

: increasing in extent or severity <a progressive disease>

2

: of, relating to, or being a multifocal lens with a gradual transition between focal lengths <progressive bifocals>

—pro·gres·sive·ly adverb