present progressive

[ prez-uhnt pruh-gres-iv ]

noun

1. a verb construction, in English made up of the auxiliary verb be in the present tense followed by the present participle of the main verb, used especially to indicate that a present action or event is in progress, being repeated, or of a temporary nature, and also often used to express the future, such as I am making supper right now, Who is hammering on the door? and They are flying to France next week.

adjective

1. designating a verb construction used to express a present action or event that is in progress, being repeated, or of a temporary nature, and also often used to express the future.

Word History and Origins

Origin of present progressive¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

There are helixes of thought that coil down the page, fields of white space, columns of present progressive verbs, calligrams, all-caps sentences and bracketed exclamations.

From New York Times

As the debate went on, his rivals poked deeper into his record, pushing Biden further from the Party’s present progressive consensus.

From The New Yorker

So instead of merely creating false headlines, they also present progressive solutions to pressing contemporary problems.

From Salon

For liberals, he benefits from his association with a beloved former president; for moderates, he is able to present progressive ideas in a non-threatening way.

From Salon

Yet unlike some politicians who hold similar views, he knows how to present progressive goals in a patriotic light.

From Economist