progressive

/prəˈɡresɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /prəˈɡresɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /prə-ˈgre-siv/ (ame, mw) · /prəˈɡres.ɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /prəˈɡres.ɪv/ (ame, ipa)

progressive — 形容詞

  • progressivepositive
  • more progressivecomparative
  • most progressivesuperlative

1. happening or moving forward in small steps over a period of time, rather than al

1.形容詞C1
釋義

漸進；逐步

逐步發展或發生的

happening or moving forward in small steps over a period of time, rather than all at once

例句

The clinic noticed a progressive improvement in Joon's hearing over six months.

診所注意到 Joon 的聽力在六個月內有漸進的改善。

collocation: progressive improvement

There has been a progressive decline in the number of wild salmon returning each year.

每年返回的野生鮭魚數量呈現逐步下降的趨勢。

collocation: progressive decline

同義詞
  • gradual

    more neutral, does not imply direction of change

  • steady

    emphasises consistency of pace rather than step-by-step change

  • incremental

    more formal, often used with business or technical changes

反義詞
  • sudden

    happening all at once rather than in stages

  • abrupt

    emphasises an unexpected or sharp change

文法句型

progressive + noun

be + progressive

常見錯誤

❌The school uses a progressive punishment system where rules get stricter each time.
✅The school uses a gradual punishment system where rules get stricter each time.
💡When you mean step-by-step without a positive direction, 'gradual' is more neutral; 'progressive' usually implies forward movement or improvement.

2. describing a medical condition that continues to develop and typically gets wors

2.形容詞B2
釋義

進行性的

(疾病)持續惡化的

describing a medical condition that continues to develop and typically gets worse over time

例句

The doctor explained that Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition.

醫生解釋說帕金森氏症是一種進行性的神經系統疾病。

progressive + medical condition

Without treatment, some forms of kidney disease become progressive and lead to organ failure.

若未接受治療，某些腎臟疾病會變成進行性，最終導致器官衰竭。

同義詞
  • degenerative

    stronger negative connotation; implies breakdown of tissue or function

  • advancing

    less clinical; used in both medical and general contexts

  • worsening

    plain-language alternative; more direct but less technical

反義詞
  • stable

    not changing or getting worse

  • remitting

    temporary decrease in severity of symptoms

文法句型

progressive + noun (disease/condition)

用法筆記

Typically used before nouns describing medical conditions. Common objects include 'disease', 'condition', 'illness', 'disorder', and 'form'.

常見錯誤

❌A cold is a progressive illness that gets worse over weeks.
✅Alzheimer's disease is a progressive illness that gets worse over years.
💡'Progressive' is used for chronic, long-term conditions, not short-term illnesses like a cold.

3. supporting new ideas and modern ways of doing things, especially those aimed at

3.形容詞B2
釋義

進步的；改革

主張社會改革或新觀念的

supporting new ideas and modern ways of doing things, especially those aimed at improving society or changing how things are run

例句

Brandon's school adopted a progressive teaching method focused on student-led projects.

Brandon 的學校採用了以學生為主導的進步教學法。

progressive teaching method

The city council introduced progressive policies to reduce carbon emissions by 2030.

市議會通過了一系列進步政策，目標是在2030年前減少碳排放。

同義詞
  • forward-thinking

    more informal; emphasises planning for the future

  • reformist

    more political; focuses on systemic change rather than general modernity

  • innovative

    emphasises creativity and new methods rather than social values

  • liberal

    overlapping in politics but broader; also has economic and social connotations

反義詞
  • conservative

    favours tradition and resists rapid change

  • reactionary

    opposes change and seeks to return to earlier conditions

文法句型

progressive + noun (ideas/policies/school)

用法筆記

Often placed before nouns such as 'ideas', 'policies', 'education', 'reform', 'school', and 'society'. In politics, it can refer to a specific movement or party, but in general use it simply describes openness to change.

常見錯誤

❌My grandfather has very progressive views about technology — he refuses to use a smartphone.
✅My grandfather has very old-fashioned views about technology
💡he refuses to use a smartphone.' — If someone rejects new things, they are not progressive; 'progressive' means open to new ideas.

4. describing a tax system where people who earn more money pay a higher percentage

4.形容詞B2
釋義

累進的

(稅率)隨收入增加的

describing a tax system where people who earn more money pay a higher percentage of their income in tax

例句

In a progressive tax system, higher earners pay a larger share of their income.

在累進稅制下，高收入者繳納較高比例的所得稅。

progressive tax system

The finance minister proposed a more progressive tax structure for the coming budget.

財政部長在即將公布的預算中提出更為累進的稅制結構。

同義詞
  • graduated

    more technical; describes rates that increase in steps or brackets

反義詞
  • regressive

    system where lower earners pay a higher percentage of income

  • flat

    single rate applied to all income levels

文法句型

progressive + tax/taxation/system

用法筆記

Almost always used before 'tax', 'taxation', 'system', or 'rate'. The opposite concept is a 'regressive' tax, where lower earners pay a higher percentage.

常見錯誤

❌A progressive tax means everyone pays the same percentage.
✅A progressive tax means the percentage increases as income rises.
💡A flat tax (same percentage for everyone) is not progressive; progressive means the rate rises with income.

5. relating to a verb form made with 'be' and a present participle (the '-ing' form

5.形容詞B2
釋義

進行式的

(文法)表示動作正在進行的

relating to a verb form made with 'be' and a present participle (the '-ing' form) that shows an action is continuing at the time being referred to

例句

The present progressive form 'is waiting' shows an action happening right now.

現在進行式「is waiting」表示正在發生的動作。

present progressive form

Learners often confuse the simple past with the past progressive tense in English.

學習者經常混淆英語中的簡單過去式和過去進行式。

同義詞
  • continuous

    more common in British English teaching materials; means the same thing

反義詞
  • simple

    the basic verb form without the 'be + -ing' structure

文法句型

progressive + form/tense/aspect

用法筆記

Used only before grammatical terms. Also called 'continuous' in some grammar books — e.g. 'present continuous' = 'present progressive'. Stative verbs (e.g. 'know', 'believe', 'own') usually do not appear in progressive forms.

6. relating to a type of spectacle lens whose focusing power increases smoothly fro

6.形容詞C1
釋義

漸進多焦點的

可看清不同距離的眼鏡鏡片

relating to a type of spectacle lens whose focusing power increases smoothly from the top region to the bottom region, giving clear vision for both near viewing and distance viewing

例句

The optician recommended progressive lenses for Lucas's reading and driving needs.

驗光師建議 Lucas 配漸進多焦點鏡片，滿足閱讀和開車的需求。

progressive lenses

Progressive lenses have no visible line between the distance and reading sections.

漸進多焦點鏡片在看遠和看近的區域之間沒有明顯的分界線。

同義詞
  • multifocal

    broader term covering any lens with multiple strengths

  • no-line bifocals

    informal; emphasises the invisible transition between sections

反義詞
  • single-vision

    lenses with one uniform strength throughout

  • bifocal

    lenses with two distinct visible zones, separated by a line

文法句型

progressive + lenses/glasses

用法筆記

Often used in the plural noun form 'progressives' to refer to the glasses themselves: 'She bought a pair of progressives.' Opposite of 'single-vision' lenses.

常見錯誤

❌I need progressive lenses because I can only see things that are far away.
✅I need progressive lenses because I need help seeing both near and far.
💡Progressive lenses are for people who need different strengths for distance and reading; single-vision lenses are for one distance only.

progressive — 名詞