■ adjective
1》 proceeding gradually or in stages: a ~ decline in popularity.
↘(of a disease or ailment) increasing in severity.
↘(of tax) increasing as a proportion of the sum taxed as that sum increases.
2》 favouring social reform.
↘favouring change or innovation.
↘(of rock music) characterized by classical influences and lengthy compositions.
3》 Grammar denoting an aspect or tense of a verb expressing an action in progress, e.g. am writing .
4》 (of a card game or dance) involving a series of sections for which participants successively change place.
5》 archaic engaging in or constituting forward motion.
■ noun a person advocating social reform.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
progressivism noun
progressivist noun & adjective