1
a(1)
: a royal journey marked by pomp and pageant
(2)
: a state procession
b
: a tour or circuit made by an official (such as a judge)
c
: an expedition, journey, or march through a region
2
: a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal) : advance
3
: gradual betterment
especially
: the progressive development of humankind
progressed; progressing; progresses
1
: to move forward : proceed
2
: to develop to a higher, better, or more advanced stage
Examples of progress in a Sentence
Noun
the rapid progress of the ship
He made slow progress down the steep cliff.
The project showed slow but steady progress.
Verb
The project has been progressing slowly.
The work is progressing and should be completed soon.
The caravan progressed slowly across the desert.
Recent Examples on the Web
Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Bennett Simmering’s second field goal of the game, this time from 31 yards out, gave the Irish a 20-9 lead midway through the fourth quarter, one play after an apparent Lakeville South fumble recovery was negated because officials said the runner’s forward progress had been stopped.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Mark Carey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
So rad to watch him progress at a new sport.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for progress
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
The videos provide a window into the human impact of the budget fight that’s largely played out among lawmakers on Capitol Hill and across TV screens, with little apparent progress toward reopening the government.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Bennett Simmering’s second field goal of the game, this time from 31 yards out, gave the Irish a 20-9 lead midway through the fourth quarter, one play after an apparent Lakeville South fumble recovery was negated because officials said the runner’s forward progress had been stopped.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Thomas Frank will be pleased with how much Tottenham Hotspur have progressed during his first four months in charge.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
So rad to watch him progress at a new sport.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for progress
Cite this Entry
“Progress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progress. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
progress
1 of 2 noun
prog·ress
ˈpräg-rəs 
-ˌres,
chiefly British ˈprō-ˌgres
1
: a moving toward a goal
the progress of a ship
2
: gradual improvement or advancement
the progress of science
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