progression

noun

pro·​gres·​sion prə-ˈgre-shən How to pronounce progression (audio)
1
: a sequence of numbers in which each term is related to its predecessor by a uniform law
2
a
: the action or process of progressing : advance
b
: a continuous and connected series : sequence
3
a
: succession of musical tones or chords
b
: the movement of musical parts in harmony
progressional
prə-ˈgresh-nəl How to pronounce progression (audio)
-ˈgre-shə-nᵊl
adjective

Examples of progression in a Sentence

Doctors were surprised by the rapid progression of the disease. the natural progression of his musical talent
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Allen consistently had time to scan the field and go through his progressions. The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 There’s an entire progression and leveling system within this specific activity. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025 Searching for a logical progression from The Office and like-minded comedies, so far The Paper has come up with a strange, often funny hybrid, with characters experiencing Parks and Rec idealism and Office-style fluorescent-light tedium simultaneously and sometimes incoherently. Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 Few treatment options exist, resulting in a high unmet need for new therapies to address functional deficits and disease progression. Arkansas Online, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for progression

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of progression was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Progression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progression. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

progression

noun
pro·​gres·​sion prə-ˈgresh-ən How to pronounce progression (audio)
1
: the action of progressing or moving forward
2
: a continuous and connected series (as of acts, events, or steps)
3
: a changing from one chord to another by means of several notes or chords coming one after the other

More from Merriam-Webster on progression

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