procession

1 of 2

noun

pro·​ces·​sion prə-ˈse-shən 

1

a

: a group of individuals moving along in an orderly often ceremonial way

b

: succession, sequence

2

a

: continuous forward movement : progression

b

: emanation

the Holy Spirit's procession from the Father

procession

2 of 2

verb

processioned; processioning; processions

intransitive verb

archaic

: to go in procession

Synonyms of procession

Noun

• parade

Examples of procession in a Sentence

Noun

There was a procession of children carrying candles.

The cars moved in procession to the cemetery.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The video for it, projected at large scale in a gallery space lined with a red textile woven with the song’s musical score, follows a ritualistic procession including Björk through an Icelandic valley. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The theft took place during a religious procession known as La Vara, conducted each year in the city of Messina in Sicily to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 Aug. 2026

The theft took place during the Vara procession marking the Ferragosto holiday, which commemorates the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 17 Aug. 2026

There is a funeral procession in the morning and a wedding in the afternoon. — Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English processioun, from Anglo-French processiun, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin procession-, processio religious procession, from Latin, act of proceeding, from procedere

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1706, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for procession

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

Kids Definition

procession

noun

pro·​ces·​sion

prə-ˈsesh-ən

1

: continuous forward movement : progression

2

: a group of individuals moving along in an orderly often ceremonial way

a funeral procession