I. pro ‧ gress 1 S2 W2 /ˈprəʊɡres $ ˈprɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ progress , ↑ progression , ↑ progressive ; verb : ↑ progress ; adverb : ↑ progressively ; adjective : ↑ progressive ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of progredi 'to go forward' ]
1 . the process of getting better at doing something, or getting closer to finishing or achieving something
progress of
The police are disappointed by the slow progress of the investigation.
progress in
There has been significant progress in controlling heart disease.
progress towards
We are making steady progress towards a peaceful settlement.
progress on
Little progress has been made on human rights issues.
2 . slow or steady movement somewhere:
We made good progress despite the snow.
progress through
They watched the ship’s slow progress through the heavy seas.
3 . change which is thought to lead to a better society, because of developments in science or fairer methods of social organization:
Mankind is destroying the planet, all in the name of progress (=because people want progress) .
Under communism, nothing was allowed to get in the way of the great march of progress.
4 . in progress formal happening now, and not yet finished:
A lecture was in progress in the main hall.
work/research in progress
They looked in periodically to check the work in progress.
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GRAMMAR
Progress is an uncountable noun. Do not say 'a progress’ or 'progresses’:
▪
She is making good progress (NOT a good progress).
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ make progress
The country has made significant economic progress.
▪ hinder sb’s progress (=make it slower)
Language problems might hinder a child’s progress at school.
▪ achieve progress
The talks ended with no real progress having been achieved.
▪ check (on) sb’s progress
A social worker calls regularly to check on the children’s progress.
▪ follow/monitor/chart sb’s progress (=keep checking it)
Throughout the night, doctors charted his progress.
▪ assess/evaluate/review sb’s progress
We appraise the work and evaluate each student’s individual progress.
■ adjectives
▪ slow
The task remains difficult and progress has been slow.
▪ steady
Steady progress has been made towards our objectives.
▪ good
He is out of hospital and making good progress.
▪ rapid
The investigation is making rapid progress.
▪ significant/real progress
Significant progress has been made in reducing nuclear weapons.
▪ great progress
Scientists have made great progress in the last four years.
▪ substantial/considerable progress
2007 was a year of substantial progress for the company.
▪ satisfactory progress
The two students who fell behind are now making satisfactory progress.
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THESAURUS
▪ progress noun [uncountable] /ˈprəʊɡres $ ˈprɑː-/ the process of getting better at doing something, or getting closer to finishing or achieving something:
a test of the students' progress.
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We have made good progress towards meeting our objectives.
▪ advance noun [countable usually plural] /ədˈvɑːns $ ədˈvæns/ a discovery, invention, or change that brings progress:
the technological advances of the twentieth century
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advances in scientific knowledge
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In recent years there have been enormous economic and social advances.
▪ breakthrough noun [countable] /ˈbreɪkθruː/ an important discovery or achievement that makes progress possible, especially one that happens suddenly after a long period of trying:
Scientists have described the discovery as a major breakthrough.
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The breakthrough in the investigation came when police found a stolen car.
▪ make headway to make progress towards achieving something – used especially when it is difficult to make progress:
After several months of discussion, the committee had made little headway.
■ no progress
▪ stalemate/deadlock /ˈsteɪlmeɪt/ [uncountable and countable] a situation in which no further progress can be made because two groups or organizations cannot find a way to end a disagreement:
The negotiations ended in deadlock.
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At that point the strike appeared to have reached a stalemate.
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the year-long political deadlock between the two parties
▪ impasse /æmˈpɑːs $ ˈɪmpæs/ [singular] formal a situation in which progress has stopped completely, especially because people cannot agree on what to do next:
The continuing impasse over the budget.
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The situation seemed to have reached an impasse.
▪ grind to a halt to slowly stop making any progress:
The economy seems to be grinding to a halt.
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It was clear that the peace talks had ground to a halt.
II. pro ‧ gress 2 /prəˈɡres/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ progress , ↑ progression , ↑ progressive ; verb : ↑ progress ; adverb : ↑ progressively ; adjective : ↑ progressive ]
1 . [intransitive] to improve, develop, or achieve things so that you are then at a more advanced stage OPP regress :
I asked the nurse how my son was progressing.
progress to
She started with a cleaning job, and progressed to running the company.
progress towards
We must progress towards full integration of Catholic and Protestant pupils in Ireland.
progress beyond
Last year the team didn’t progress beyond the opening round.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] if an activity such as work or a project progresses, or you progress it, it continues:
Work on the ship progressed quickly.
We’re hoping to progress the Lane project more quickly next week.
3 . [intransitive] if time or an event progresses, time passes:
As the meeting progressed, Nina grew more and more bored.
Time is progressing, so I’ll be brief.
4 . [intransitive] to move forward:
Our taxi seemed to be progressing very slowly.