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

Wednesday’s proceedings also marked the first time the Senate has ever declined to hold a trial after impeachment by the House. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024

Tuesday’s proceedings saw the presumptive Republican presidential nominee warned by Judge Juan Merchan over potential juror intimidation, while several possible jurors were confronted with social media posts that Trump’s lawyers said showed bias against the onetime reality TV star. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024

How proceedings could play out One possibility is that the Senate could move very quickly to dispense with the trial. —Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024

The case will return to court July 22 for further proceedings. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024

During proceedings, Pan’s father obtained a restraining order for him and his son Felix, prohibiting Pan from contacting them ever again. —Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024

Now, a group of Republicans are planning to delay Schumer’s ability to close up impeachment proceedings with speeches demanding a full trial and forcing time-consuming votes on points of order. —Brian Bennett, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024

The United States Supreme Court threw out the death sentence, called it a kangaroo-court proceeding. —John J. Lennon, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024

As of this month, more than 100 rioters have been convicted and sentenced under that statute for obstructing or impeding an official proceeding — in this case the joint session of Congress that convened on Jan. 6 to formally certify Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. —Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 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