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progressive definition

pro·gres·sive (prō gres′iv, prə-)

adjective

  1. moving forward or onward
  2. continuing by successive steps a progressive decline
  3. of, or concerned with, progression
  4. designating a tax whose rate increases as the base increases
    1. favoring, working for, or characterized by progress or improvement, as through political or social reform
    2. of or having to do with a person, movement, etc. thought of as being modern or advanced, as in ideas, methods, etc.
  6. ☆ of an educational system stressing individuality, self-expression, etc.
  7. Gram. indicating continuing action or state, or action in progress: used as of certain verb forms (Ex: am working, as opposed to the simple form work)
  8. Med. becoming more severe or spreading to other parts: said of a disease
  9. Politics of a Progressive Party

Etymology: MFr progressif < ML progressivus < L progressus: see progress

noun

  1. a person who is progressive, esp. one who favors political progress or reform
  2. a member of a Progressive Party

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical progressive definition - medical

progressive Synonyms

progressive

modif.

  1. In mounting sequence

    advancing, mounting, rising, increasing, growing, continuous, successive, following, adding, multiplying, consecutive, gradual, serial, unbroken, uninterrupted, endless, regular, methodical, uniform; see also moving 1.

    Antonyms firm*, stationary*, immovable. *

  2. Receptive to new ideas

    tolerant, lenient, openminded, reformist, revisionist; see also liberal 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

progressive Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • religious: In 1643 the House of Commons promised money and religious and political influence throughout the realm to religious progressives in Scotland.

Modifies a noun

  • jackpot: Build up your personal progressive jackpot for a chance to collect during the exciting bonus round.

Modifying Another Word

  • socially: No private company would have experimented with such socially progressive innovations in building homes.

Used with adjective complement

  • lead: The ippr is the UK's leading progressive think tank.
progressive usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

progressive quotes

I want to be progressive without getting both feet off the ground at the same time†a progressive who is prudent.

-Johnson, Lyndon B(aines) also called LBJ

DefinitionöScience is systematized positive knowledge, what has been taken as such in different ages and in different places. TheoremöThe acquisition and systematization of positive knowledge are the only human activities which are truly cumulative and progressive.CorollaryöThe history of science is the only history which can illustrate the progress of mankind. In fact, progress has no definite and unquestionable meaning in other fields than the field of science.

-Sarton, George A

We who are liberal and progressive know that the poor are our equals in every sense except that of being equal to us.

-Trillin, Calvin Marshall

progressive quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"progressive." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/progressive>

APA Style

progressive. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/progressive

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