progressive

¹pro·gres·sive

adj \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antique, dated, fusty, hoary, musty, Neanderthal (or Neandertal), obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, past

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with PROGRESSIVE

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