progressive

[ pruh-gres-iv ]

adjective

1. favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are, especially in political matters:

   The city recently elected a progressive mayor.

   Synonyms: liberal

2. making progress toward better conditions; employing or advocating more enlightened or liberal ideas, new or experimental methods, etc.:

   We are a progressive community supporting and connecting innovative artists from many different cultures.

3. Progressive, of or relating to any of the Progressive parties in politics.
4. going forward or onward; passing successively from one member of a series to the next; proceeding step by step:

   We are seeing a progressive increase in average temperatures worldwide.

   Synonyms: continuous, straight, successive, consecutive

5. relating to or being a form of taxation in which the rate increases with certain increases in taxable income.
6. of or relating to progressive education:

   He worries that progressive schools achieve less solid mastery than conventional schools.

7. Grammar. designating a verb aspect or other verb category used for an action or state in process at a particular point of reference in time, whether past, present, or future.
8. Medicine/Medical. continuously increasing in extent or severity, as a disease.

noun

1. a person who is progressive or who favors progress or reform, especially in political matters.
2. Progressive, a member of a Progressive party.
3. Grammar.
   1. a verb aspect or other verb category used for an action or state in process at a particular point of reference in time, whether past, present, or future.
   2. an instance or form of a verb in this aspect, such as They are thinking about it, I was reading when you called, or Tomorrow I will be traveling to Boston.

Progressive

¹

/ prəˈɡrɛsɪv /

noun

1. history a member or supporter of a Progressive Party
2. Canadian history a member or supporter of a chiefly agrarian reform movement advocating the nationalization of railways, low tariffs, an end to party politics, and similar measures: important in the early 1920s

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a Progressive Party, Progressive movement, or Progressives

progressive

²

/ prəˈɡrɛsɪv /

adjective

1. of or relating to progress
2. proceeding or progressing by steps or degrees
3. often capital favouring or promoting political or social reform through government action, or even revolution, to improve the lot of the majority

   a progressive policy

4. denoting or relating to an educational system that allows flexibility in learning procedures, based on activities determined by the needs and capacities of the individual child, the aim of which is to integrate academic with social development
5. (of a tax or tax system) graduated so that the rate increases relative to the amount taxed Compare regressive
6. (esp of a disease) advancing in severity, complexity, or extent
7. (of a dance, card game, etc) involving a regular change of partners after one figure, one game, etc
8. denoting an aspect of verbs in some languages, including English, used to express prolonged or continuous activity as opposed to momentary or habitual activity

   a progressive aspect of the verb ``to walk'' is ``is walking.''

noun

1. a person who advocates progress, as in education, politics, etc
2. 1. the progressive aspect of a verb
   2. a verb in this aspect

Derived Forms

• proˈgressivist, noun
• proˈgressiveness, noun
• proˈgressively, adverb
• proˈgressivism, noun

Other Words From

• pro·gres·sive·ly adverb
• pro·gres·sive·ness pro·gres·siv·i·ty [proh-gre-, siv, -i-tee], noun
• an·ti·pro·gres·sive adjective
• non·pro·gres·sive adjective noun
• non·pro·gres·sive·ness noun
• qua·si-pro·gres·sive adjective
• sem·i·pro·gres·sive adjective noun
• sem·i·pro·gres·sive·ness noun
• ul·tra·pro·gres·sive adjective noun
• ul·tra·pro·gres·sive·ness noun
• un·pro·gres·sive adjective
• un·pro·gres·sive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of progressive¹

First recorded in 1600–10; progress + -ive

Example Sentences

A nomination is almost assured, but there’s already a backlash brewing against the film, with critics complaining that it’s a “regressive picture masquerading as progressive” and a “wild ride to nowhere.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Enough is enough. The state’s voters continue to support so-called progressive policies, but are drawing the line when it impacts their cost of living or quality of life.”

From Los Angeles Times

However, California’s emphasis on such liberal issues pushes the boundaries for many moderate voters, even those who may be sympathetic to some progressive polices, Kochel said.

From Los Angeles Times

As the United States has become more progressive and secular — at the same time congregations are shrinking and aging — Christians have lost much of their cultural power, leaving many to feel under assault, Hankins said.

From Los Angeles Times

She cast her progressive aims as the whole nation’s business and the keys to showing the world what America is made of.

From Salon

Related Words

• forward-looking
• forward-thinking
• left
• left of center
• leftist
• liberal
• reformist