process

[ pros-es; especially British proh-ses ]

noun

, plural proc·ess·es [pros, -es-iz, ‑, uh, -siz, ‑, uh, -seez, proh, -ses-iz, proh, -s, uh, -seez].

1. a systematic series of actions directed to some end:

   to devise a process for homogenizing milk.

   Synonyms: operation

2. a continuous action, operation, or series of changes taking place in a definite manner:

   the process of decay.

3. Law.
   1. the summons, mandate, or writ by which a defendant or thing is brought before court for litigation.
   2. the whole course of the proceedings in an action at law.
4. Photography. photomechanical or photoengraving methods collectively.
5. Biology, Anatomy. a natural outgrowth, projection, or appendage:

   a process of a bone.

6. the action of going forward or on.
7. the condition of being carried on.
8. course or lapse, as of time.
9. conk ⁴( defs 1, 2 ).

verb (used with object)

1. to treat or prepare by some particular series of actions, as in manufacturing.
2. to handle (papers, records, etc.) by systematically organizing them, recording or making notations on them, following up with appropriate action, or the like:

   to process mail.

3. to mentally or emotionally deal with and make sense of:

   Cognitive therapy can be helpful in processing traumatic events and experiences.

   The disease affects the brain's ability to process bodily sensations.

4. to require (someone) to answer questionnaires, perform various tasks, and sometimes to undergo physical and aptitude classification examinations before the beginning or termination of a period of service:

   The army processes all personnel entering or leaving the service.

5. to convert (an agricultural commodity) into marketable form by a special series of steps, as pasteurization.
6. to institute a legal process against; prosecute.
7. to serve a process or summons on.
8. Computers. to carry out operations on (data or programs).
9. conk ⁴( def 3 ).

verb (used without object)

1. to deal with something mentally or emotionally and make sense of it:

   That movie completely blew me away—I’m still processing a week later.

2. to undergo administrative activities involved in hiring or firing personnel, organizing and reviewing information to make a decision, etc.:

   The recruits are expected to process in four days.

   Your application for admission is still processing, but you should hear from us shortly.

adjective

1. prepared or modified by an artificial process or procedure:

   process cheese.

2. noting, pertaining to, or involving photomechanical or photoengraving methods:

   a process print.

3. Informal. of or relating to hair that has been conked, or chemically straightened.
4. Movies. created by or used in process cinematography:

   a moving background on a process screen.

process

¹

/ ˈprəʊsɛs /

noun

1. a series of actions that produce a change or development

   the process of digestion

2. a method of doing or producing something
3. a forward movement
4. the course of time
5. 1. a summons, writ, etc, commanding a person to appear in court
   2. the whole proceedings in an action at law
6. a natural outgrowth or projection of a part, organ, or organism
7. a distinct subtask of a computer system which can be regarded as proceeding in parallel with other subtasks of the system
8. modifier relating to the general preparation of a printing forme or plate by the use, at some stage, of photography
9. modifier denoting a film, film scene, shot, etc, made by techniques that produce unusual optical effects

verb

1. to subject to a routine procedure; handle
2. to treat or prepare by a special method, esp to treat (food) in order to preserve it

   to process cheese

3. 1. to institute legal proceedings against
   2. to serve a process on
4. photog
   1. to develop, rinse, fix, wash, and dry (exposed film, etc)
   2. to produce final prints or slides from (undeveloped film)
5. computing to perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information
6. to prepare (food) using a food processor

process

²

/ prəˈsɛs /

verb

1. intr to proceed in or as if in a procession

Pronunciation Note

The word process, an early 14th century French borrowing, has a regularly formed plural that adds -es to the singular. This plural, as in similar words like recesses and successes, has traditionally been pronounced [-iz]: [pros, -es-iz, proh, -ses-] or [pros, -, uh, -siz, proh, -s, uh, -]. Recent years have seen the increasing popularity of an [-eez] pronunciation for processes, perhaps by mistaken analogy with such plurals as theses and hypotheses, with which it has no connection. Although this newer pronunciation is increasingly common, it is regarded by some educated speakers as an affectation.

Other Words From

• pro·ces·su·al [pro-, sesh, -oo-, uh, l, proh-], adjective
• o·ver·proc·ess verb (used with object)
• pre·proc·ess verb
• re·proc·ess verb (used with object)
• sem·i·proc·essed adjective
• trans·proc·ess noun
• un·proc·essed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of process¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; from Middle English proces (noun), from Old French, from Latin prōcessus “a going forward,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + ced-, variant stem of cēdere “to yield” + -tus suffix of verbal action, with dt > ss ; cede, cession

Word History and Origins

Origin of process¹

C14: from Old French procès, from Latin prōcessus an advancing, from prōcēdere to proceed

Origin of process²

C19: back formation from procession

Synonym Study

Process, procedure, proceeding apply to something that goes on or takes place. A process is a series of progressive and interdependent steps by which an end is attained: a chemical process. Procedure usually implies a formal or set order of doing a thing, a method of conducting affairs: parliamentary procedure. Proceeding (usually pl.) applies to what goes on or takes place on a given occasion or to the records of the occasion: Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Sciences.

Example Sentences

KP Law, representing the claimants, has begun the process of litigation, which is expected to start at the beginning of 2025.

From BBC

The team also hopes to automate the process of assessing nutritional content based on food photos, and is developing large language models capable of automatically asking follow-up questions to obtain more accurate information.

From Science Daily

Additionally, findings may have significant implications for industrial process engineering.

From Science Daily

This finding suggests that single cells process and remember information over different time spans.

From Science Daily

"The process is called sintering, which aggregates fine particles together into a more solid state. It is similar to powder metallurgy in the manufacturing of ceramics," continues Tsumori.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• action
• case
• course
• development
• growth
• means
• measure
• mechanism
• movement
• operation
• practice
• procedure
• proceeding
• progress
• rule
• step
• system
• technique
• trial
• way

When To Use

What are other ways to say process?

A process is a systematic series of actions directed to some end. When should you use this noun over procedure or proceeding? Find out on Thesaurus.com.