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

In response, defense attorneys for the government recognized Bojovic had recently been renewed to work but stated that because he was placed into removal proceedings after his arrest, the agency moved to revoke. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

Appeals court proceedings unfold largely out of public view and are unlikely to surface new evidence, instead focusing on narrow legal questions about the president’s appointment authority and prosecutorial power. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026

Using evidence obtained in these proceedings and by Chilean authorities, the officer, Lieutenant Pedro Pablo Barrientos Nunez, will now be tried before Chilean courts. —Christina Hioureas, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2026

However, an earnestness mars most of the proceedings. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 20 Mar. 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