progress

1.nounB1

Definition

the process of becoming better at something, or of moving closer to achieving or finishing it

Example

The research team made remarkable progress in developing a typhoon-resistant strain of rice.

collocation: make progress in

Nellie measured her progress in learning Mandarin by counting the characters she could read each month.

Common collocations

steady progress
significant progress
make progress
progress report
track progress
slow progress
progress toward

Synonyms

advancement
more formal, often used in careers or technology
development
focuses on gradual growth and stages of change
headway
informal, used with 'make' — 'make headway' means the same as 'make progress'

Antonyms

regression
the opposite — moving backward or becoming worse
stagnation
a state where no progress happens over time

Grammar Patterns

make progress + in/on/with + noun phrase

progress + toward + noun phrase

Usage Note

Usually uncountable — you cannot say 'a progress' or 'progresses' in this sense. Use 'make progress' to describe advancement toward a goal.

Common Mistakes

I have made a good progress in my studies.

I have made good progress in my studies.

Progress is uncountable and does not take an article.

The student progresses are improving.

The student's progress is improving.

Progress is a mass noun and takes a singular verb.

2.nounB2

Definition

physical movement from one place or position to another in a forward direction

Example

The ship made slow progress through the thick ice fields near the Antarctic coastline.

collocation: make progress (physical movement)

Road repairs slowed the progress of traffic along the main highway south of Taipei.

Common collocations

make progress
slow progress
halt progress
block progress

Synonyms

advance
can be used as both verb and noun, emphasises purposeful forward motion
headway
informal, used with 'make' for progress despite difficulties

Antonyms

retreat
moving backward, away from the intended direction

Usage Note

Like sense 1, this sense is uncountable. When describing a person or vehicle moving through a space, 'progress' emphasizes the forward direction as much as the covering of distance.

Common Mistakes

The car made a slow progress through the traffic.

The car made slow progress through the traffic.

No article before the uncountable noun.

3.nounB1

Definition

currently happening, being done, or being worked on

Example

Please do not enter the laboratory while experiments are in progress.

fixed phrase: be in progress

The renovation of the old train station is still in progress and will take five more months.

Common collocations

in progress
work in progress
still in progress
currently in progress

Synonyms

underway
more formal, often used for planned events or operations
ongoing
adjective meaning continuing; less specific about current moment

Antonyms

completed
finished and no longer happening
finished
brought to an end

Grammar Patterns

be in progress

still in progress

work in progress

Usage Note

This is not a standalone noun sense but a fixed prepositional phrase. 'In progress' always follows a form of 'be' ('is in progress', 'are in progress') or appears in the compound noun 'work in progress'.

Common Mistakes

The meeting is on progress.

The meeting is in progress.

The correct preposition is 'in', not 'on' or 'under'.

Idioms

in progress

idiom

Something that is happening or being done now.

The construction of the new library is currently in progress.

Sara asked if the meeting was still in progress.

1.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to become better at something, such as a skill, ability, or area of knowledge

Example

Naoko progressed from beginner to intermediate level in just three months of studying Mandarin part-time.

pattern: progress from X to Y

As the course progressed, Aarav became more confident about speaking in front of an audience.

Common collocations

progress quickly/slowly/steadily
progress from
progress to
progress in
progress well

Synonyms

advance
very similar in meaning, slightly more formal
develop
broader — can also mean to grow or evolve naturally
improve
more general; can describe any kind of positive change

Antonyms

regress
to return to an earlier, less developed state
deteriorate
to become worse in quality or condition

Grammar Patterns

progress + from + noun phrase + to + noun phrase

progress + in/with + noun phrase

Usage Note

Intransitive — no direct object. Common patterns are 'progress from X to Y' (showing stages) and 'progress in/with X' (showing the area of improvement). Also used with 'well', 'slowly', 'quickly' to describe the pace.

Common Mistakes

She progressed her English quickly.

She progressed quickly in English.

'Progress' as an intransitive verb cannot take a direct object.

2.verbintransitiveC2

Definition

to continue or unfold over a period of time, moving through stages or phases

Example

As the evening progressed, the conversation grew more lively and everyone shared stories from their childhood.

pattern: as the [time period] progressed

Ramón's doctoral research progressed slowly but steadily through the long winter months of data collection.

Common collocations

as time progresses
as the day/evening/season progressed
progress slowly/steadily

Synonyms

proceed
more formal; suggests orderly continuation without implying improvement
unfold
suggests gradual revelation of stages or events
develop
focuses on the way events take shape over time

Antonyms

halt
to stop or pause permanently
stall
to stop making progress temporarily

Grammar Patterns

progress + (through/along/across + noun phrase)

as time/event + progresses

Usage Note

This sense describes time-based unfolding, not necessarily improvement. The subject is typically an event, period of time, or natural phenomenon. Frequently used with 'as' — 'as the day/week/project progressed'.

Common Mistakes

The meeting progressed a new schedule.

The meeting progressed and eventually produced a new schedule.

This sense is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.

3.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

to push a project, plan, or field of study forward into a more sophisticated stage — for example, progressing a bill through parliament or progressing a proposal toward a decision

Example

The new government funding will help progress the development of affordable solar panels for rural communities.

transitive use: progress + [project]

Brooke's supervisor asked her to progress the project so the team could meet the year-end deadline.

Common collocations

progress a project/plan/proposal
progress the development of
progress through the stages

Synonyms

advance
more common in transitive use; 'advance a proposal' sounds very natural
further
formal verb meaning to help something succeed
facilitate
focuses on making the process easier or possible

Antonyms

delay
to slow down or put off until later
obstruct
to block or prevent progress intentionally

Grammar Patterns

progress + noun phrase

Usage Note

This is the only transitive sense of 'progress' as a verb. The subject is usually an organisation, authority, or structured effort. The object is typically an abstract noun — a plan, project, piece of work, or field of study.

Common Mistakes

I progressed my homework.

I made progress on my homework.

For personal tasks, the noun form with 'make' is more natural; the transitive verb is better suited to formal or professional contexts.

4.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to move forward in space, especially slowly or steadily toward a destination

Example

The soldiers progressed cautiously through the dense jungle, watching the treeline for any sign of danger.

direction: progress through [terrain]

As the parade progressed down the main street, children ran alongside waving flags and cheering.

Common collocations

progress through/along/down
progress slowly/cautiously/steadily

Synonyms

advance
very similar, often used for purposeful movement toward a goal
proceed
more formal; often implies orderly or continuous movement
move on
phrasal verb; less formal, more conversational

Antonyms

retreat
to move backward away from a position
halt
to stop moving altogether

Grammar Patterns

progress + along/down/up/through + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often specifies the direction with a preposition ('through', 'along', 'down', 'up') or the manner with 'cautiously', 'slowly', 'steadily'. Unlike noun sense 2, this verb puts the focus on the action of moving rather than the distance covered.

Common Mistakes

The car progressed me to the airport.

The car progressed steadily toward the airport.

This sense is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.

Word family

progression
nounB2
progressive
adjectiveB2
progressively
adverbB2
progressiveness
nounC1
progressor
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe positive change, but they differ in scope and focus. 'Advance' emphasises purposeful forward motion toward a specific goal — it is often used in technology, science, and careers ('advances in artificial intelligence'). 'Development' suggests a natural or staged process of growth, unfolding over time ('the development of a child's language skills'). 'Improvement' is the broadest of the three, simply meaning 'becoming better' and can apply to anything from test scores to health to product quality. In everyday conversation, 'make progress' is the most natural choice: 'She made good progress in her recovery.' Use 'advance' for breakthroughs or milestones, 'development' for gradual processes with identifiable stages, and 'improvement' when the only claim is that something is better than before.

advance ↗development ↗improvement ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

make progress
in progress
work in progress
progress report
progress bar
track progress
steady progress
slow progress

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'progress' comes from Latin 'progressus', meaning 'a going forward' or 'an advance'. This noun was formed from the verb 'progredī', which combines 'pro-' (forward) and 'gradī' (to step or walk). English borrowed the word through Middle French 'progrès' during the 15th century. Originally it referred only to physical forward movement, and over the centuries its meaning expanded to include improvement in skills, knowledge, and society — a shift that reflects the Enlightenment belief that human civilisation naturally moves toward better states.

progress

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

in progress

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near

progress

progress — noun

1. the process of becoming better at something, or of moving closer to achieving or

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. physical movement from one place or position to another in a forward direction

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. currently happening, being done, or being worked on

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

in progress

progress — verb

1. to become better at something, such as a skill, ability, or area of knowledge

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to continue or unfold over a period of time, moving through stages or phases

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to push a project, plan, or field of study forward into a more sophisticated sta

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

4. to move forward in space, especially slowly or steadily toward a destination

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near