progressive
developing or happening gradually
There's been a progressive decline in the standard of living over the past few years.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
progressive
I. pro‧gres‧sive1 /prəˈɡresɪv/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: noun: ↑progress, ↑progression, ↑progressive; verb: ↑progress; adverb: ↑progressively; adjective: ↑progressive]
1. supporting new or modern ideas and methods, especially in politics and education:
a progressive administration
progressive and forward-looking policies
2. happening or developing gradually over a period of time
progressive decline/reduction/increase etc
the progressive increase in population
Britain’s progressive decline as a world power
3. technical the progressive form of a verb is used to show that an action or activity is continuing to happen. In English, it consists of the verb ‘be’ followed by the ↑present participle, as in ‘I was waiting for the bus’. SYN continuous
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
progressive
pro·gres·sive [progressive progressives] adjective, noun [prəˈɡresɪv] [prəˈɡresɪv]
adjective
1. in favour of new ideas, modern methods and change
• progressive schools
Opp: retrogressive
2. happening or developing steadily
• a progressive reduction in the size of the workforce
• a progressive muscular disease
3. (also con·tinu·ous) (grammar) connected with the form of a verb (for example I am waiting or It is raining) that is made from a part of be and the present participle. Progressive forms are used to express an action that continues for a period of time.
Word Origin:
early 17th cent.: from French progressif, -ive or medieval Latin progressivus, from progress- ‘gone forward’, from the verb progredi, from pro- ‘forward’ + gradi ‘to walk’.
Example Bank:
• highly progressive in outlook
• Are you in favour of progressive teaching methods?
• He is progressive, open-minded, and sincerely concerned with civil-rights struggles.
Derived Word: progressivism
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
progressive / prəˈɡres.ɪv / adjective (GRADUAL)
C1 developing or happening gradually:
There's been a progressive decline in the standard of living over the past few years.
a progressive disease
progressive / prəˈɡres.ɪv / adjective (MODERN)
B2 describes ideas or systems that are new and modern, encouraging change in society or in the way that things are done:
progressive ideas/attitudes
The left of the party is pressing for a more progressive social policy.
a progressive school
progressive / prəˈɡres.ɪv / adjective (TAX)
describes a tax system in which the rate of tax is higher on larger amounts of money
progressive / prəˈɡres.ɪv / adjective (GRAMMAR)
describes the form of a verb that is used to show that the action is continuing. It is formed with the verb 'be' followed by the present participle (= -ing form of the verb) :
'He's working hard at the moment' is an example of the present progressive form of the verb 'work'.
'I was eating when the phone rang' is an example of the past progressive.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
progressive
[prəgre̱sɪv]
progressives
1) ADJ-GRADED Someone who is progressive or has progressive ideas has modern ideas about how things should be done, rather than traditional ones.
...a progressive businessman who had voted for Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936...
Willan was able to point to the progressive changes he had already introduced...
The children go to a progressive school.
Ant:
conservative
N-COUNT
A progressive is someone who is progressive. The Republicans were deeply split between progressives and conservatives.
2) ADJ: usu ADJ n A progressive change happens gradually over a period of time.
One prominent symptom of the disease is progressive loss of memory.
...the progressive development of a common foreign and security policy.
Syn:
gradual
Ant:
sudden
Derived words:
progressively ADV ADV compar, ADV with v Her symptoms became progressively worse... The amount of grant the council received from the Government was progressively reduced.
3) ADJ: ADJ n In grammar, progressive means the same as continuous.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1pro·gres·sive /prəˈgrɛsɪv/ adj
1 : moving forward
• the progressive movements of the hands of a clock
2 : happening or developing gradually over a period of time
• a progressive disease
3 [more ~; most ~] : using or interested in new or modern ideas especially in politics and education
• a progressive community/school
• a progressive candidate
4 grammar : of or relating to the progressive tense of a verb
• a progressive verb form
