Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

progressive

1. pro.gres.sive \pr*-'gres-iv\ aj 1a: of, relating to, or characterized by 
   progress  1b: of, relating to, or constituting an educational theory marked 
   by empha sis on the individual child, informality of classroom procedure, 
   and encouragement of self-expression 2: of, relating to, or characterized 
   by progression  3: moving forward or onward : ADVANCING  4: increasing in 
   extent or severity {a ~ disease}  often cap  5: of or relating to political 
   Progressives  6: of, relating to, or constituting a verb form that 
   expresses action or s tate in progress at the time of speaking or a time 
   spoken of - pro.gres.sive.ly av
2. progressive n 1a: one that is progressive  1b: one believing in moderate 
   political change and esp. social improvement  by governmental action cap  
   2: a member of a U.S. political party : as  2a: a member of a predominantly 
   agrarian minor party split off from the Rep ublicans about 1912; specif : 
   BULL MOOSE 2b: a follower of Robert M. La Follette in the presidential 
   campaign of 192 4 2c: a follower of Henry A. Wallace in the presidential 
   campaign of 1948