progressive

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​gres·​sive prə-ˈgre-siv How to pronounce progressive (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by progress
b
: making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities
c
: of, relating to, or constituting an educational theory marked by emphasis on the individual child, informality of classroom procedure, and encouragement of self-expression
2
: of, relating to, or characterized by progression
3
: moving forward or onward : advancing
4
a
: increasing in extent or severity
a progressive disease
b
: increasing in rate as the base increases
a progressive tax
5
often capitalized : of or relating to political Progressives
6
: of, relating to, or constituting a verb form that expresses action or state in progress at the time of speaking or a time spoken of
7
: of, relating to, or being a multifocal lens with a gradual transition between focal lengths
progressive bifocals
8
: or, relating to, or using a method of video scanning (as for television or a computer monitor) in which the horizontal lines of each frame are drawn successively from top to bottom compare interlaced
progressively adverb
progressiveness noun

progressive

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: one that is progressive
b
: one believing in moderate political change and especially social improvement by governmental action
2
capitalized : a member of any of various U.S. political parties: such as
a
: a member of a predominantly agrarian minor party that around 1912 split off from the Republicans
specifically : bull moose
b
: a follower of Robert M. La Follette in the presidential campaign of 1924
c
: a follower of Henry A. Wallace in the presidential campaign of 1948

Examples of progressive in a Sentence

Adjective the progressive movements of the hands of a clock progressive forms of animal life Noun Believe” is never used in the progressive.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
In the Stockton and Napa Senate races, independent expenditures supported and opposed candidates mostly along moderate and progressive lines. Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 Politics In final primary debate, Senate candidates spar over Israel, immigration and campaign donations Feb. 21, 2024 The candidates tried to emphasize their unique flavors of progressive politics. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 In Los Angeles County, 11 people are challenging District Attorney George Gascon, a progressive who has survived two recall attempts since taking office in 2020. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 But the extent of the uncommitted vote on Tuesday's elections will serve as a way to measure the discontent over Mr. Biden's foreign policy, especially among Arab American voters and younger, progressive voters. Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 Ginsburg was a consistent progressive voice on the Supreme Court. Sari Beth Rosenberg, Parents, 5 Mar. 2024 Republican criticism against the current process comes as voters have in recent years passed several progressive policies through initiative petitions, including marijuana legalization and Medicaid expansion. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024 Two days ahead of its release, Williams' care team revealed she had been diagnosed with progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024 Two days before the series released, Williams’ team shared that in 2023, she was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Trump’s leading competitor, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, continued to win sizable portions of the Republican electorate, and Biden faced backlash from progressives over his handling of Israel’s military campaign into Gaza. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 The war in Gaza has alienated important parts of Mr. Biden’s winning 2020 coalition, including young voters, progressives and some Black voters. Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 And what has blown me away being in Taiwan is the way in which different Taiwanese progressives have fought for a place for minorities. Ailsa Chang, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024 Biden says temporary cease-fire in Gaza could come next week Biden’s tight embrace of Israel has hurt him politically among young voters, progressives, people of color and Arab Americans — and on the eve of the Michigan primary. Hazem Balousha, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024 And some House progressives are against the $14.1 billion the bill would commit to Israel. Joe Rubin, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2024 But even those progressives didn’t feel much sorrow when Tory was convicted because of his conduct and arrogance throughout the leadup to the trial. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 With the border legislation stalled, Biden is considering executive action on the border under federal immigration powers once used by Trump to achieve some of the policies in the legislation, risking a backlash from progressives and immigration advocates. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 Barton and other Seven Mountains proponents argue that the idea of separation of church and state, regarded by many as a bedrock of American democracy, is a myth invented by progressives based on a misreading of Thomas Jefferson’s famous 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists. Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'progressive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of progressive was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near progressive

Cite this Entry

“Progressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progressive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

progressive

1 of 2 adjective
pro·​gres·​sive prə-ˈgres-iv How to pronounce progressive (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or showing progress or progression
b
: making use of or interested in new ideas
a progressive city
c
: of or relating to an educational theory emphasizing informal classrooms and encouraging self-expression
a progressive school
2
a
: moving forward or onward : advancing
the progressive movements of the hands of a clock
b
: spreading and becoming worse
a progressive disease
c
: increasing in rate as the base amount increases
a progressive tax
3
: of, relating to, or being a verb form that expresses action or state in progress at the time of speaking or a time spoken of
am seeing and is being seen are progressive forms
progressively adverb
progressiveness noun

progressive

2 of 2 noun
: a person believing in gradual political change and social improvement by government action

Medical Definition

progressive

adjective
pro·​gres·​sive prə-ˈgres-iv How to pronounce progressive (audio)
1
: increasing in extent or severity
a progressive disease
2
: of, relating to, or being a multifocal lens with a gradual transition between focal lengths
progressive bifocals
progressively adverb

Legal Definition

progressive

adjective
pro·​gres·​sive
: increasing in rate as the base increases
a progressive tax

More from Merriam-Webster on progressive

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