progression
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the process of developing or moving to a higher or more advanced level.
the act of progressing or moving forward in a course of development or evolution.
Simple“The doctor was happy with the patient's steady progression toward full health.”
In context“The natural progression of the disease can be slowed significantly if the patient adheres to the prescribed therapeutic regimen.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a series of things that follow one after another in a logical order.
a sequence or continuous series of events, stages, or items that follow a logical or chronological order.
Simple“The book shows the progression of the artist's style over forty years.”
In context“The curriculum follows a logical progression, ensuring that students master fundamental concepts before moving on to more abstract theories.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
a series of numbers where each number is found by adding or multiplying the same amount each time.
a sequence of numbers in which there is a constant relation between any number and the one succeeding it.
Simple“In an arithmetic progression like 2, 4, 6, 8, you add two to each number.”
In context“The students were asked to calculate the tenth term of the geometric progression by identifying the common ratio between the initial integers.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
a series of musical notes or chords played one after another.
a succession of musical chords or harmonic changes that forms the basis of a section of music.
Simple“The song uses a simple chord progression that is very easy to learn on guitar.”
In context“The composer utilised a non-traditional harmonic progression to create a sense of unease that resolved only in the final bars of the movement.”
“Researchers were independent gentlemen rather than university professors, so publishing wasn’t tied to career progression.”
“The most recent was a six-day walkout in April, after the BMA rejected an offer which included more training jobs, faster career progression and a plan to cover out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees.”
From Middle English progressioun, from Old French progression and its etymon Latin prōgressiō. By surface analysis, progress + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.