Progressive Meaning
/pɹəˈɡɹɛsɪv/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjFavouring or promoting progress; advanced.
adjGradually advancing in extent; increasing.
Sentence Examples
His thought is progressive.
He is very progressive, not to say radical.
The disease causes progressive muscle weakness.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor recommended a ____ treatment plan that increases dosage gradually over time.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The school adopted a ____ teaching philosophy that emphasized creativity and critical thinking.
Word Origin & History
From the Middle French progressif, from the Latin prōgressīvus, from prōgredior (perfect participial stem: prōgress-) + -īvus. Displaced native Old English forþgenġe. By surface analysis, progress + -ive.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Conservative movements were far more progressive than the standard religious narrative of the decade alleges and the notoriously progressive ethos of the era was far more conservative than our collective memory has recognized."
— 2016, Richard Lints, Progressive and Conservative Religious Ideologies, page i:
"Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin on Wednesday called for “action, not words” from Democrats, criticizing the approach of some in the progressive wing of the party."
— 2025 March 19, Alison Main, “Michigan Democrat says she ‘can’t just be an activist’ and calls on party to act”, in CNN, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2025:
"Not long ago, few progressives imagined this day would come. They assumed the MAGA movement had been discredited by the shocking images that emerged from the January 6 insurrection, and that Trump was politically weakened by the barrage of criminal charges against him."
— 2025 January 19, John Blake, “What MLK knew that today’s progressives keep forgetting”, in CNN, archived from the original on 21 Jan 2025:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor recommended a ____ treatment plan that increases dosage gradually over time.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The school adopted a ____ teaching philosophy that emphasized creativity and critical thinking.