Etymology From Middle English progresse, from Old French progres (“a going forward”), from Latin prōgressus (“an advance”), from the participle stem of prōgredī (“to go forward, advance, develop”), from pro- (“forth, before”) + gradi (“to walk, go”). Displaced native Old English forþgang.
1
Usually Movement or advancement through a series of events, or points in time; development through time.
Testing for the new antidote is currently in progress.
2
Usually Specifically, advancement to a higher or more developed state; development, growth.
Science has made extraordinary progress in the last fifty years.
You wish for progress? The Ascians have it. They are deafened by it, crazed by the death of Nature till they are ready to accept Erebus and the rest as gods.1983, Gene Wolfe, chapter XXVIII, in The Citadel of the Autarch (The Book of the New Sun; 4), New York: Timescape, →ISBN, page 239:
1 more example
Becoming more aware of the progress that scientists have made on behavioral fronts can reduce the risk that other natural scientists will resort to mystical agential accounts when they exceed the limits of their own disciplinary training.2012 January 23, Stephen Ledoux, “Behaviorism at 100”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 10 Nov 2013, page 60:
3
Usually An official journey made by a monarch or other high personage; a state journey, a circuit.
... Queen Elizabeth in one of her progresses, stopping at Crawley to breakfast, was so delighted with some remarkably fine Hampshire beer which was then presented to her by the Crawley of the day (a handsome gentleman with a trim beard and a good leg), that she forthwith erected Crawley into a borough to send two members to Parliament ...1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 7, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
With the king about to go on progress, the trials and executions were deliberately timed.2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 124:
Now Tim began to be struck with these loitering progresses along the garden boundaries in the gloaming, and wondered what they boded.1886 May – 1887 April, Thomas Hardy, The Woodlanders […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
5
Usually Movement onwards, forwards, or towards a specific objective or direction; advance.
The thick branches overhanging the path made progress difficult.
Etymology From the noun. Lapsed into disuse in the 17th century, except in the US. Considered an Americanism on reintroduction to use in the UK.
1
To move, go, or proceed forward; to advance.
Visitors progress through the museum at their own pace.
Scotland needed a victory by eight points to have a realistic chance of progressing to the knock-out stages, and for long periods of a ferocious contest looked as if they might pull it off.2011 October 1, Tom Fordyce, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland”, in BBC Sport:
2
To develop.
Societies progress unevenly.
3
Broadly To improve; to become better or more complete.
4
To expedite.
Or […] they came to progress matters in which Dudley had taken a hand, and left defrauded or bound over to the king.2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 266: