English Reference
noun

proceeding

n.
US /pɹəˈsidɪŋ/ UK /pɹəsˈiːdɪŋ/ pro·ceed·ing

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal Law

    a formal action taken in a court of law.

    a formal legal action or a specific step taken in a court case; often used in the plural to describe the entire case.

    Simple

    The legal proceedings against the company lasted for over three years.

    In context

    The judge stayed the proceedings pending the discovery of new evidence that could fundamentally alter the defendant's plea.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural form 'proceedings' when referring to a court case.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    an event or a series of things that happen, especially at a meeting or ceremony.

    a sequence of events or activities occurring at a particular time and place, often following a formal structure.

    Simple

    The mayor opened the proceedings with a short speech about the new park.

    In context

    A sense of solemnity governed the proceedings as the committee began the task of reviewing the annual budget.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural to describe the activities of a meeting or event.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Academic Academic

    a published collection of reports or papers from a professional meeting or conference.

    the published record of the papers delivered or the business transacted at a meeting of a learned society or academic conference.

    Simple

    You can find her latest research paper in the conference proceedings.

    In context

    The proceedings of the international physics symposium were published online, providing immediate access to the latest experimental data.

The case could also have wider implications for public confidence in Mozambique’s justice system, particularly if it is seen as part of a broader political dispute rather than simply a criminal proceeding.

Al Jazeera· 8 Sept 2026

Such a request lets an interested party in a foreign legal proceeding ask for discovery of information from an entity based in the US.

The Guardian· 27 Aug 2026

By surface analysis, proceed + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated