progression

[ pruh-gresh-uhn ]

noun

1. the act of progressing; forward or onward movement.
2. a passing successively from one member of a series to the next; succession; sequence.
3. Mathematics. a succession of quantities in which there is a constant relation between each member and the one succeeding it. Compare arithmetic progression, geometric progression, harmonic progression.
4. Music. the manner in which chords or melodic tones follow one another; a succession of chords or tones.
5. Astrology. any of a variety of methods of comparing the natal chart to subsequent planetary positions in order to establish an optimum time to accomplish things or to establish the probable time an event occurred or will occur.

progression

/ prəˈɡrɛʃən /

noun

1. the act of progressing; advancement
2. the act or an instance of moving from one thing or unit in a sequence to the next
3. maths a sequence of numbers in which each term differs from the succeeding term by a constant relation See also arithmetic progression geometric progression harmonic progression
4. music movement, esp of a logical kind, from one note to the next ( melodic progression ) or from one chord to the next ( harmonic progression )
5. astrology one of several calculations, based on the movement of the planets, from which it is supposed that one can find the expected developments in a person's birth chart and the probable trends of circumstances for a year in his life

Derived Forms

• proˈgressional, adjective
• proˈgressionally, adverb

Other Words From

• pro·gression·al adjective
• pro·gression·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of progression¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prōgressiōn-, stem of prōgressiō “advancement, forward movement”; equivalent to progress + -ion

Example Sentences

"I think it is a great progression and keeps the alignment in-between the pathway and the seniors," Titterrell said.

From BBC

“But the most important thing now is to see the progression.”

From Los Angeles Times

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and Harriet Jacobs articulate a version of Black liberalism that can be described by three unifying terms: liberty, reform and progression.

From Salon

For them, the idea of liberty pointed to the tangible abolition of slavery and racial hierarchy; reform represented the persistent human action required to achieve liberty through moral, social and political processes; and progression suggests a practical commitment to the possibility of effecting positive political change and acknowledges the potential for future improvement to be contingent rather than inevitable.

From Salon

"Mark Robins had more to give, look at the club since the day he came in and it's been year-on-year success and progression," added 67-year-old Ogrizovic.

From BBC

Related Words

• advancement
• breakthrough
• evolution