progress Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun gradual improvement or growth or development
    advancement.
    • advancement of knowledge
    • great progress in the arts
  2. noun the act of moving forward (as toward a goal)
    advance; forward motion; progression; advancement; procession; onward motion.
  3. noun a movement forward
    progression; advance.
    • he listened for the progress of the troops
  4. verb develop in a positive way
    advance; come along; shape up; get on; come on; get along.
    • He progressed well in school
    • My plants are coming along
    • Plans are shaping up
  5. verb move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
    advance; move on; march on; pass on; go on.
    • Time marches on
  6. verb form or accumulate steadily
    build up; build; work up.
    • Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly
    • Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border

WordNet

Prog"ress noun
Etymology
L. progressus, from progredi, p. p. progressus, to go forth or forward; pro forward + gradi to step, go: cf. F. progrès. See Grade.
Definitions
  1. A moving or going forward; a proceeding onward; an advance; specifically: (a) In actual space, as the progress of a ship, carriage, etc. (b) In the growth of an animal or plant; increase. (c) In business of any kind; as, the progress of a negotiation; the progress of art. (d) In knowledge; in proficiency; as, the progress of a child at school. (e) Toward ideal completeness or perfection in respect of quality or condition; -- applied to individuals, communities, or the race; as, social, moral, religious, or political progress.
  2. A journey of state; a circuit; especially, one made by a sovereign through parts of his own dominions.
    The king being returned from his progresse. Evelyn.
Pro*gress" intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Progressed ; present participle & verbal noun Progressing
Definitions
  1. To make progress; to move forward in space; to continue onward in course; to proceed; to advance; to go on; as, railroads are progressing. "As his recovery progressed." Thackeray.
    Let me wipe off this honorable dew, That silverly doth progress on thy checks. Shak.
    They progress in that style in proportion as their pieces are treated with contempt. Washington.
    The war had progressed for some time. Marshall.
  2. To make improvement; to advance. Bayard.
    If man progresses, art must progress too. Caird.
Prog"ress transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To make progress in; to pass through. Obs. Milton.

Webster 1913