Progress

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹəʊ.ɡɹɛs/

Definitions

1. The process of moving forward or advancing towards a goal involves both development and improvement over time
2. A continuous series of changes or developments in a certain area can signify advancement or betterment in a situation
3. The act of making headway or advancing toward completion can involve both growth in skills and gradual enhancements in a project

Etymology: Before "progress" meant forward movement in the abstract, English speakers had their own word for it: forþgang, an Old English compound of "forþ" (forth) and "gang" (going). That native term was pushed aside by the Latin-derived "progress," which arrived in Middle English as "progresse," borrowed through Old French "progres" from Latin "prōgressus," meaning "an advance." The Latin noun comes from the participle stem of "prōgredī," "to go forward," so the English word has carried the sense of stepping ahead since its first appearance. The word's history in English has an unusual twist. It fell out of everyday use in the 17th century in Britain, and so when it returned to British speech it was received as an American import. In the United States it stayed in regular use throughout that gap, which is why the word sounded to British ears like a transatlantic newcomer.

Synonyms: advancement, development, improvement, growth, progression

Antonyms: setback, decline, regression, stagnation