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 of proceeding

• lawsuit

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

However, both may profoundly influence culpability, competency, and the fairness of criminal proceedings. — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Roh had asked for the assets to be valued based on a different date in the divorce proceedings in 2026, then worth significantly more. — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

He was detained without incident, and will remain in custody pending immigration proceedings, according to the statement. — Mary Ella Hastings updated July 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026

Lawmakers had started impeachment proceedings in June after a damning parliamentary report concluded the president had a case to answer regarding the handling of the theft, including why such large amounts of cash were kept in a sofa at the farm. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing proceeding

• summary proceeding

Rhymes for proceeding

• acceding
• cheerleading
• conceding
• crossbreeding
• exceeding
• impeding
• inbreeding
• misleading
• misreading
• preceding
• proofreading
• receding

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