proceeding

noun

pro·​ceed·​ing prō-ˈsē-diŋ 

prə-

1

: legal action

a divorce proceeding

2

: procedure

3

proceedings plural : events, happenings

4

: transaction

5

proceedings plural : an official record of things said or done

Synonyms

• action
• lawsuit
• suit

Examples of proceeding in a Sentence

The secretary kept a record of the proceedings at the meeting.

She started the proceedings with a brief welcoming speech.

The proceedings of the conference will be published.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hunter Biden gun trial updates Multiple Biden family members attended the proceedings for a second day in a row, including first lady Jill Biden and President Joe Biden's daughter, Ashley Biden. —Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 4 June 2024

The proceedings were sent off course when Trump sought to have County District Attorney Fani Willis removed for having a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. —Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 4 June 2024

Tesla’s legal team has said a vote ratifying Musk’s pay would materially affect proceedings in Delaware, where a judge is deciding how much to award to Tornetta’s legal team, Reuters reports. —William Gavin, Quartz, 3 June 2024

The proceedings before Cole on that day concluded at 3:53 p.m., and less than a minute later the judge messaged her former colleague, deputy district attorney Kevin Sexton, who had observed Rockhill’s testimony earlier in the day from inside the courtroom, according to the commission. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing proceeding

• summary proceeding

Kids Definition

proceeding

noun

pro·​ceed·​ing

1

: procedure sense 2a

2

plural : things that happen

kept an eye on the proceedings

3

: a legal action

Legal Definition

proceeding

noun

pro·​ceed·​ing

1

: a particular step or series of steps in the enforcement, adjudication, or administration of rights, remedies, laws, or regulations: as

a

: an action, hearing, trial, or application before the court

— collateral proceeding

: a proceeding that concerns an order, motion, petition, or writ deriving from or sought in relation to another proceeding (as a trial)

a collateral proceeding on a motion to have the judge in a pending trial disqualified

especially : one in which a collateral attack on a judgment is made

sought to avoid the effect of the judgment in a collateral proceeding after denial of a direct appeal

— core proceeding

: a proceeding (as one instituted by a debtor against a creditor) that is integral to the administration of a bankruptcy estate and so falls under the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court

— non-core proceeding

: a proceeding involving a matter that relates to a bankruptcy case but that does not arise under bankruptcy laws, that could be adjudicated in a state court, and over which a bankruptcy court has limited authority

— special proceeding

: a proceeding (as for condemnation or disbarment) that may be commenced independently of a pending action by petition or motion and from which a final order affecting a substantial right may be immediately appealed

special proceedings created exclusively by statute where a special procedure is appropriate and warranted

—Sosebee v. County Line Sch. Dist., 897 S.W.2d 556 (1995)

— summary proceeding

: a civil or criminal proceeding in the nature of a trial that is conducted without formalities (as indictment, pleadings, and usually a jury) for the speedy and peremptory disposition of a matter

— supplementary proceeding

: a proceeding to discover the assets of a judgment debtor

also : a proceeding that in some way supplements another

b

: a hearing conducted by an administrative body

c

: a criminal prosecution or investigation

2

plural : an official record of things done or said