Synonyms of progress

progress 1 of 2

noun

ˈprä-grəs 

1

as in process

forward movement in time or place

we're making slow progress against this stiff headwind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• process
• progression
• advance
• advancement
• procession
• going
• headway
• march
• flow
• passage
• furtherance
• coming
• leap
• stream
• current
• approach
• onrush
• arrival
• drift
• way
• flux
• step
• advent
• momentum
• nearing
• stride
• jump
• impetus
• bound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• regression
• retreat
• retrogression
• regress
• recession
• recess
• ebb
• return
• reflux
• reversal
• reverse
• retraction
• turnaround
• backwash
• turnabout
• about-face

2

as in evolution

the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced

the rapid progress of medical science in the last century

Synonyms & Similar Words

• evolution
• development
• progression
• growth
• expansion
• improvement
• advancement
• emergence
• elaboration
• betterment
• maturation
• enhancement
• flowering
• maturing
• refinement
• incubation
• ripening
• perfection
• augmentation
• metamorphosis
• evolvement
• blossoming
• supplementation
• flourishing
• addition

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• regression
• retrogression
• regress
• reversion
• relapse
• lapse
• deterioration
• decline
• degradation
• falling
• decay
• degeneration
• descent
• weakening
• downfall
• devaluation
• backslide
• decadence
• degeneracy
• declination
• downgrade
• declension
• decaying
• ebbing

progress

2 of 2

verb

prə-ˈgres 

1

as in to grow

to become mature

generally a species progresses from simple forms to more specialized forms

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grow
• develop
• age
• mature
• grow up
• ripen
• flower
• evolve
• bloom
• flourish
• blossom
• soften
• get along
• mellow
• advance
• unfold
• gray
• get on
• open
• burgeon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decline
• deteriorate
• decay
• worsen
• degenerate
• sink
• waste (away)
• dry
• fade
• weaken
• wane
• wilt
• regress
• revert
• wither
• return
• sag
• flag
• shrivel
• lapse
• droop
• retrogress
• backslide

2

as in to proceed

to move forward along a course

our wedding plans are progressing nicely

Synonyms & Similar Words

• proceed
• do
• march
• come
• go
• advance
• pace
• forge
• come along
• get along
• go along
• get on
• go off
• speed
• gain ground
• fare
• accelerate
• approach
• travel
• journey
• push
• repair
• drive
• near
• pass
• propel
• fast-forward
• take out
• run
• impel
• actuate
• wend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remain
• stop
• stay
• stand
• check
• hinder
• impede
• halt
• arrest
• block
• slow (down or up)
• stem
• obstruct
• retard
• delay
• hold back
• detain
• interrupt
• suppress
• hamper
• repress
• stall
• inhibit
• cease
• balk
• wait
• pause
• stunt
• nip
• regress
• cramp
• let up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of progress

Noun

After sitting behind Dillon Gabriel for a season, Moore displayed considerable progress in 2025 and played with more poise than when he was thrust into the starting role at UCLA as a true freshman in 2023. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Elected in the 'Black gay mecca' Black gay men have long spearheaded progress for civil rights for Black Americans. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Verb

Experts agreed that the biggest threat to progress on overdose deaths is the looming Medicaid cuts. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026

The collaboration has now progressed beyond preliminary engineering. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026