proceedings
proceedings — noun
1. the formal events that take place, one after another, during a conference, cerem
the formal events that take place, one after another, during a conference, ceremony, or other organised gathering
Kabir arrived late and missed the opening proceedings of the award ceremony.
collocation: opening proceedings
The climate summit proceedings began with a keynote by Dr. Adisa Okonkwo on vaccine research.
Yara sat quietly through the wedding proceedings, watching every ritual unfold.
Proceedings at the residents' association meeting ran smoothly despite the heated debate over the broken lift.
The wedding planner handed out a printed timetable so every guest could follow the day's proceedings.
文法句型
the proceedings of [event]
proceedings at [event]
proceedings begin/continue/end
用法筆記
Refers to the events themselves — the speeches, rituals, and activities — not just the printed schedule. Always plural in this sense.
常見錯誤
2. the full written account of everything discussed, agreed upon, or carried out at
the full written account of everything discussed, agreed upon, or carried out at an official meeting, published afterwards as a permanent document
The disciplinary committee's proceedings were printed and distributed to every faculty member the following week.
passive: proceedings were printed
Ingrid checked the proceedings of the last board meeting before preparing her report.
The published proceedings of the Royal Historical Society included the full text of every speech and motion.
Theo searched the online proceedings for the debate on school funding from last March.
The published proceedings of the annual linguistics conference run to nearly eight hundred pages.
- minutes
a briefer summary of decisions; proceedings are typically more detailed and verbatim
- transcript
a word-for-word record of speech only; proceedings also include motions, decisions, and written submissions
- record
more general; proceedings implies an official, published document
文法句型
the proceedings of [meeting/conference]
published proceedings
proceedings are printed/issued
用法筆記
Always plural. Often refers to the published minutes of academic societies, professional bodies, and committees. Distinguished from 'minutes' by being a fuller, often verbatim record.
常見錯誤
3. the series of steps, hearings, and legal processes that form a case being dealt
the series of steps, hearings, and legal processes that form a case being dealt with by a court of law or an official body
Trang and Ezra's divorce proceedings took nearly two years because they could not agree on custody of their daughter.
collocation: divorce proceedings
The judge warned that proceedings would continue even if the defendant refused to appear.
James hired a lawyer the moment he learned that proceedings had been filed against him.
Bankruptcy proceedings forced Astrid's family bakery to sell off its ovens and delivery vans.
Esme attended every day of the proceedings, taking careful notes for her client.
- litigation
more formal; emphasises the process of taking a dispute through the courts
- lawsuit
refers specifically to the legal claim filed, not the entire court process that follows
- trial
only the hearing stage where evidence is presented; proceedings covers the whole case from filing to judgment
- action
the broadest legal term for any matter brought before a court
文法句型
proceedings against [someone]
proceedings for [offence/claim]
institute/commence/file proceedings
proceedings are ongoing/concluded
用法筆記
Always plural. Common collocates include divorce, bankruptcy, criminal, disciplinary, and extradition. The singular 'proceeding' can refer to a single step or hearing within a larger case.