progress

Etymology 1

From Middle English progresse, from Old French progres (“a going forward”), from Latin prōgressus (“an advance”), from the participle stem of prōgredī (“to go forward, advance, develop”), from pro- (“forth, before”) + gradi (“to walk, go”). Displaced native Old English forþgang.

noun

1. Movement or advancement through a series of events, or points in time; development through time.
   Testing for the new antidote is currently in progress.
2. Specifically, advancement to a higher or more developed state; development, growth.
   Becoming more aware of the progress that scientists have made on behavioral fronts can reduce the risk that other natural scientists will resort to mystical agential accounts when they exceed the limits of their own disciplinary training. 2012-01, Stephen Ledoux, “Behaviorism at 100”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, page 60
   Science has made extraordinary progress in the last fifty years.
3. An official journey made by a monarch or other high personage; a state journey, a circuit.
   With the king about to go on progress, the trials and executions were deliberately timed. 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 124
4. (now rare) A journey forward; travel.
5. Movement onwards or forwards or towards a specific objective or direction; advance.
   The thick branches overhanging the path made progress difficult.

Etymology 2

From the noun. Lapsed into disuse in the 17th century, except in the US. Considered an Americanism on reintroduction to use in the UK.

verb

1. (intransitive) To move, go, or proceed forward; to advance.
   Visitors progress through the museum at their own pace.
   Scotland needed a victory by eight points to have a realistic chance of progressing to the knock-out stages, and for long periods of a ferocious contest looked as if they might pull it off. October 1, 2011, Tom Fordyce, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland”, in BBC Sport
2. (intransitive) To develop.
   Societies progress unevenly.
   1. (by extension) To improve; to become better or more complete.
3. (transitive) To expedite.
   Or […] they came to progress matters in which Dudley had taken a hand, and left defrauded or bound over to the king. 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 266