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

The relentless daily attacks underscore the lack of significant progress in diplomatic efforts to end the fighting more than four years after Russia invaded its neighbor. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

With signs of mosaic loss of the Y chromosome prevalent in renal cell and esophageal cancers, researchers have been keen to map its appearance in tissues surrounding tumors to determine how they may be related to the disease’s progress. — Mike McRae 20, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026

Verb

But about 1 in 20 patients progress to severe dengue, a life-threatening turn that tends to strike just as the fever breaks – often around days three to seven, when patients and their families may wrongly assume the worst is over. — Andrés Henao, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026

As the vacation progresses, deeper issues in Zoran and Ivana’s relationship begin to surface, and these problems eventually extend to their interactions with a neighboring family. — Ed Meza, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026