progressive

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​gres·​sive prə-ˈgre-siv 

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

progressively adverb

progressiveness noun

progressive

2 of 2

noun

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 U.S. political parties: such 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

Synonyms

Adjective

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

Examples of progressive in a Sentence

Adjective

the progressive movements of the hands of a clock

progressive forms of animal life

Noun

“Believe” is never used in the progressive.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Parents and kids alike say the school was marketed as something of a bastion of progressive education for those who couldn’t hack it in a more traditional environment. —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024

In a new interview with Vogue France, the Canadian singer discussed the neurological disorder, which causes progressive muscular stiffness. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing progressive

• anti-progressive
• progressive tense
• the progressive

Kids Definition

progressive

1 of 2 adjective

pro·​gres·​sive prə-ˈgres-iv 

1

a

: of, relating to, or showing progress or progression

b

: making use of or interested in new ideas

a progressive city

c

: of or relating to an educational theory emphasizing informal classrooms and encouraging self-expression

a progressive school

2

a

: moving forward or onward : advancing

the progressive movements of the hands of a clock

b

: spreading and becoming worse

a progressive disease

c

: increasing in rate as the base amount increases

a progressive tax

3

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

am seeing and is being seen are progressive forms

progressively adverb

progressiveness noun

progressive

2 of 2 noun

: a person believing in gradual political change and social improvement by government action

Medical Definition

progressive

adjective

pro·​gres·​sive prə-ˈgres-iv 

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

progressively adverb

Legal Definition

progressive

adjective

pro·​gres·​sive

: increasing in rate as the base increases

a progressive tax