in progress

noun

1. a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage: the progress of a student toward a degree.
2. developmental activity in science, technology, etc., especially with reference to the commercial opportunities created thereby or to the promotion of the material well-being of the public through the goods, techniques, or facilities created.
3. advancement in general.
4. growth or development; continuous improvement: He shows progress in his muscular coordination.
5. the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.
6. Biology. increasing differentiation and perfection in the course of ontogeny or phylogeny.
7. forward or onward movement: the progress of the planets.
8. the forward course of action, events, time, etc.
9. an official journey or tour, as by a sovereign or dignitary.

verb (used without object) pro·gress [pruh-gres] /prəˈgrɛs/

10. to go forward or onward in space or time: The wagon train progressed through the valley. As the play progressed, the leading man grew more inaudible.
11. to grow or develop, as in complexity, scope, or severity; advance: Are you progressing in your piano studies? The disease progressed slowly.

Idioms

12. in progress, going on; under way; being done; happening: The meeting was already in progress.

noun (ˈprəʊɡrɛs)

1. movement forwards, esp towards a place or objective
2. satisfactory development, growth, or advanceshe is making progress in maths
3. advance towards completion, maturity, or perfectionthe steady onward march of progress
4. (modifier) of or relating to progressa progress report
5. biology increasing complexity, adaptation, etc, during the development of an individual or evolution of a group
6. British a stately royal journey
7. in progress taking place; under way

verb (prəˈɡrɛs)

8. (intr) to move forwards or onwards, as towards a place or objective
9. to move towards or bring nearer to completion, maturity, or perfection

n.

late 14c., “a going on, action of walking forward,” from Old French progres (Modern French progrès), from Latin progressus “a going forward,” from past participle of progredi (see progression).

In early use in English especially “a state journey by royalty.” Figurative sense of “growth, development, advancement to higher stages” is from c.1600. To be in progress “underway” is attested by 1849. Progress report attested by 1865.

v.

1590s in the literal sense; c.1600 in the figurative sense, from progress (n.). OED says the verb was obsolete in English 18c. but was reformed or retained in America and subsequently long regarded in Britain as an Americanism. Related: Progressed; progressing.

Going on, under way, happening, as in She’s got another book in progress, or The game was already in progress when I tuned in. [c. 1600]

see in progress.