# progressive

/pɹəˈɡɹɛsɪv/ (US) · /pɹəɡɹˈɛsɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/progressive
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. social/political reform

adjective · CEFR B2

supporting new ideas and social change to make a country fairer.

For teachers: advocating for social reform, new policies, or liberal ideas aimed at improving societal conditions.

- The city is known for its progressive policies on public transport and green energy.
- The candidate's progressive platform resonated with younger voters who felt that traditional parties were failing to address the climate crisis.

### 2. gradual development

adjective · CEFR B2

happening or developing steadily in stages.

For teachers: happening or developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step.

- The patient showed progressive improvement after starting the new treatment.
- The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms will likely become more severe over the next few years.

### 3. taxation

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

a system where the tax rate increases as the amount of money increases.

For teachers: relating to a tax system in which the rate of tax increases as the taxable amount increases.

- Most countries use a progressive income tax to ensure wealthier people pay more.
- Economists argued that a more progressive tax structure would help reduce the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

### 4. a person

noun · CEFR B2

someone who wants to change and improve society through new laws or ideas.

For teachers: a person who advocates for social reform or holds liberal political views.

- As a lifelong progressive, she spent her career fighting for workers' rights.
- The debate highlighted the growing divide between the party's traditional base and the younger progressives.

### 5. grammar

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a verb form that shows an action is happening right now, usually ending in -ing.

For teachers: a verb form or aspect that expresses an action in progress, typically formed in English with 'be' and the present participle.

- In the sentence 'I am eating,' the verb is in the present progressive.
- The teacher explained that the past progressive is used to describe an action that was interrupted by another event.

Usage: Often used interchangeably with 'continuous' in EFL contexts.

## Examples

- The young progressive voted for the new environmental law.
- As a lifelong progressive, she spent her career fighting for better public housing and affordable healthcare for all citizens.
- The candidate sought to appeal to the urban progressive by highlighting her record on civil liberties and her commitment to systemic police reform.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.