proceeding

[ pruh-see-ding ]

noun

1. a particular action or course or manner of action.
2. proceedings, a series of activities or events; happenings.
3. the act of a person or thing that proceeds:

   Our proceeding down the mountain was hindered by mud slides.

4. proceedings, a record of the doings or transactions of a fraternal, academic, etc., society.
5. proceedings, Law.
   1. the instituting or carrying on of an action at law.
   2. a legal step or measure:

      to institute proceedings against a person.

proceeding

/ prəˈsiːdɪŋ /

noun

1. an act or course of action
2. 1. the institution of a legal action
   2. any step taken in a legal action
3. plural the minutes of the meetings of a club, society, etc
4. plural legal action; litigation
5. plural the events of an occasion, meeting, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of proceeding¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; proceed, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

It allows abortion only if the life of the patient is threatened, and even then, doctors have to prove that they were justified in proceeding rather than prosecutors’ having to do so.

From Slate

Next, he returned to the Brea home to retrieve Wang’s body and burn it in a desert area in Riverside County before proceeding to take the two Teslas to two different desert areas and set them each on fire, prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times

"It’s important to me and my assisting team… that you feel safe, you feel heard and you feel cared for throughout this proceeding."

From BBC

Zilke, 49, was arrested last year in May and pleaded guilty months later to conspiracy to aid and abet drug distribution, launder money and obstruction of an official government proceeding for stealing and attempting to cover up the theft of $150,000 in DEA undercover funds.

From Los Angeles Times

TGI Fridays has “secured a commitment for debtor-in-possession financing to support operations while proceeding through the Chapter 11 process,” the statement specified.

From Salon

Related Words

• action
• course of action
• exercise
• experiment
• incident
• measure
• operation
• procedure
• process
• transaction