progress
gb/pɹˈɑɡɹɛs/ us/pɹˈɑɡɹɛs/
A2
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
state
1
Forward movement or improvement
The act of moving forward or getting better at something.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] makes progress [in/with something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'progress' (uncountable in this sense) with 'a progress'. It should not have 'a' before it when referring to improvement or movement toward a goal.
Synonyms
advancement (Often used in formal or professional contexts to mean forward movement in status or development.)
Antonyms
regression (Indicates a return to a worse state or earlier condition.)
Collocations
make progress
|slow progress
|rapid progress
|in progress
|measure progress
Themes
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The team has made great progress on the project.
- Her English skills have shown steady progress this year.
- We are pleased with the progress of the negotiations.
- The construction is still in progress.
- Despite challenges, there has been visible progress in the economy.
Learner examples
- I am making good progress in my studies.
- We saw progress in the building work.
- She is making progress with her piano lessons.
- The work is still in progress.
- He made slow progress because he was tired.
Verb
B1
action
2
Move forward toward a goal
To move forward or get closer to finishing something.
Usage pattern:
to progress [toward/in/through something]
Common mistake:
Some learners incorrectly use 'progress' as a transitive verb ('progress something'), but it is generally intransitive and does not take a direct object.
Synonyms
advance (Similar meaning but can also imply moving ahead of others or into new areas.)
Antonyms
stall (To stop making forward movement or improvement.)
Collocations
progress toward a goal
|progress through a course
|progress steadily
|progress rapidly
Themes
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The students are progressing well in their studies.
- Work on the bridge progressed quickly after the weather improved.
- The talks are progressing toward an agreement.
- She progressed from junior to senior level within two years.
Learner examples
- I am progressing in my English class.
- The work is progressing slowly.
- He progressed to the next level in the game.
- They are progressing toward their goal.
Noun
formal
C1
event
3
Formal procession forward
A formal group of people moving forward together, usually for a special event.
Synonyms
procession (More common term for people moving together in an orderly way.)
Collocations
royal progress
|ceremonial progress
Themes
ceremony
|tradition
|arts_entertainment
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The graduates entered the hall in academic progress.
- The royal progress through the city drew large crowds.
Learner examples
- The king made a royal progress through the country.
- The students walked in a slow progress into the room.
Grammar
Dictionary form
progress
IPA
GB/pɹˈɑɡɹɛs/
US/pɹˈɑɡɹɛs/
Syllables & stress
pro - gress (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pro)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: progress
- Plural: progress
Verb
- Base: progress
- 3rd Person Singular: progresses
- Present Participle: progressing
- Past: progressed
Word family
Forms
progresses
verb
progressing
verb
progressed
verb
Core family
progressive
adjective B2
progressively
adverb B2
Related words
progression
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
regress
verb C1
regression
noun C1
Expressions
in progress
1/ˈɪn pɹˈɑɡɹɛs/
fixed phrase
Currently happening or underway
Happening now or being worked on at the moment.
Examples
- The meeting is still in progress, please wait outside.
- Renovations are in progress and will finish next month.
make progress
1/mˈeɪk pɹˈɑɡɹɛs/
fixed phrase
Achieve improvement toward a goal
To get better at something or move closer to finishing it.
Examples
- She is making good progress with her recovery.
- We made little progress due to bad weather.
rapid progress
1/ɹˈæpɪd pɹˈɑɡɹɛs/
fixed phrase
Improvement happening quickly
When getting better or finishing something happens very fast.
Examples
- He made rapid progress learning French.
- Technology has seen rapid progress in recent years.
slow progress
1/slˈoʊ pɹˈɑɡɹɛs/
fixed phrase
Improvement happening slowly
When getting better or finishing something takes a long time.
Examples
- It was slow progress climbing the mountain.
- The talks made slow progress over several months.