How to pronounce progressive
Say it like pruh-GRES-iv. Progressive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GRES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce progressive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pruh
- GRES
- iv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Progressive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- GRESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of progressive
American and British speakers say progressive in essentially the same way: /prəˈɡrɛsɪv/ in the US and /prəˈɡrɛsɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: pruh-GRES-iv.
What does progressive mean?
- favoring or promoting progress“progressive schools”
- favoring or promoting reform (often by government action)
- (of taxes) adjusted so that the rate increases as the amount of income increases
- a tense of verbs used in describing action that is on-going
- a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
Where does progressive come from?
From the Middle French progressif, from the Latin prōgressīvus, from prōgredior (perfect participial stem: prōgress-) + -īvus.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with progressive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of progressive.
Questions about saying progressive
How do you pronounce progressive?
Say pruh-GRES-iv. The American pronunciation is /prəˈɡrɛsɪv/. In British English it is /prəˈɡrɛsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in progressive?
Progressive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GRES). Broken into parts: pruh · GRES · iv.
Do Americans and Brits say progressive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /prəˈɡrɛsɪv/ and the British form is /prəˈɡrɛsɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.