progress
progress — noun
1. the process of becoming better at something, or of moving closer to achieving or
the process of becoming better at something, or of moving closer to achieving or finishing it
The research team made remarkable progress in developing a typhoon-resistant strain of rice.
collocation: make progress in
Nellie measured her progress in learning Mandarin by counting the characters she could read each month.
The construction crew reported steady progress on the new library and expects to finish in June.
Teachers meet every Friday to discuss each child's academic progress and any learning difficulties.
- advancement
more formal, often used in careers or technology
- development
focuses on gradual growth and stages of change
- headway
informal, used with 'make' — 'make headway' means the same as 'make progress'
- regression
the opposite — moving backward or becoming worse
- stagnation
a state where no progress happens over time
文法句型
make progress + in/on/with + noun phrase
progress + toward + noun phrase
用法筆記
Usually uncountable — you cannot say 'a progress' or 'progresses' in this sense. Use 'make progress' to describe advancement toward a goal.
常見錯誤
2. physical movement from one place or position to another in a forward direction
physical movement from one place or position to another in a forward direction
The ship made slow progress through the thick ice fields near the Antarctic coastline.
collocation: make progress (physical movement)
Road repairs slowed the progress of traffic along the main highway south of Taipei.
Adina checked the group's progress against the trail map every hour to avoid wandering off course.
As the runner rounded the final bend, she tracked her progress by the noise of the cheering crowd.
- retreat
moving backward, away from the intended direction
用法筆記
Like sense 1, this sense is uncountable. When describing a person or vehicle moving through a space, 'progress' emphasizes the forward direction as much as the covering of distance.
常見錯誤
3. currently happening, being done, or being worked on
currently happening, being done, or being worked on
Please do not enter the laboratory while experiments are in progress.
fixed phrase: be in progress
The renovation of the old train station is still in progress and will take five more months.
Joaquín tried to schedule a meeting, but his manager said the quarterly review was already in progress.
Construction work on the new hospital wing is in progress, so the east parking area is closed.
文法句型
be in progress
still in progress
work in progress
用法筆記
This is not a standalone noun sense but a fixed prepositional phrase. 'In progress' always follows a form of 'be' ('is in progress', 'are in progress') or appears in the compound noun 'work in progress'.
常見錯誤
progress — verb
1. to become better at something, such as a skill, ability, or area of knowledge
to become better at something, such as a skill, ability, or area of knowledge
Naoko progressed from beginner to intermediate level in just three months of studying Mandarin part-time.
pattern: progress from X to Y
As the course progressed, Aarav became more confident about speaking in front of an audience.
Hoa progressed quickly through the online programming tutorials and soon started building her own simple apps.
The patient progressed well after the surgery, and the doctors were pleased with her recovery rate.
- regress
to return to an earlier, less developed state
- deteriorate
to become worse in quality or condition
文法句型
progress + from + noun phrase + to + noun phrase
progress + in/with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Intransitive — no direct object. Common patterns are 'progress from X to Y' (showing stages) and 'progress in/with X' (showing the area of improvement). Also used with 'well', 'slowly', 'quickly' to describe the pace.
常見錯誤
2. to continue or unfold over a period of time, moving through stages or phases
to continue or unfold over a period of time, moving through stages or phases
As the evening progressed, the conversation grew more lively and everyone shared stories from their childhood.
pattern: as the [time period] progressed
Ramón's doctoral research progressed slowly but steadily through the long winter months of data collection.
The storm progressed across the island chain, bringing heavy rain to every village along its path.
Nila felt her anxiety lessen as the treatment progressed over several weeks of regular sessions.
文法句型
progress + (through/along/across + noun phrase)
as time/event + progresses
用法筆記
This sense describes time-based unfolding, not necessarily improvement. The subject is typically an event, period of time, or natural phenomenon. Frequently used with 'as' — 'as the day/week/project progressed'.
常見錯誤
3. to push a project, plan, or field of study forward into a more sophisticated sta
to push a project, plan, or field of study forward into a more sophisticated stage — for example, progressing a bill through parliament or progressing a proposal toward a decision
The new government funding will help progress the development of affordable solar panels for rural communities.
transitive use: progress + [project]
Brooke's supervisor asked her to progress the project so the team could meet the year-end deadline.
Scientists hope this breakthrough will progress the field of regenerative medicine by several years of research.
The committee worked hard to progress the housing proposal from the planning stage to formal approval.
- advance
more common in transitive use; 'advance a proposal' sounds very natural
- further
formal verb meaning to help something succeed
- facilitate
focuses on making the process easier or possible
文法句型
progress + noun phrase
用法筆記
This is the only transitive sense of 'progress' as a verb. The subject is usually an organisation, authority, or structured effort. The object is typically an abstract noun — a plan, project, piece of work, or field of study.
常見錯誤
4. to move forward in space, especially slowly or steadily toward a destination
to move forward in space, especially slowly or steadily toward a destination
The soldiers progressed cautiously through the dense jungle, watching the treeline for any sign of danger.
direction: progress through [terrain]
As the parade progressed down the main street, children ran alongside waving flags and cheering.
The group of climbers progressed slowly up the mountain trail, stopping often to drink water and rest.
Traffic progressed at a crawl through the flooded streets for hours after the typhoon passed.
文法句型
progress + along/down/up/through + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often specifies the direction with a preposition ('through', 'along', 'down', 'up') or the manner with 'cautiously', 'slowly', 'steadily'. Unlike noun sense 2, this verb puts the focus on the action of moving rather than the distance covered.