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noun Common

proceeding

pruh-SEE-dihng

Proceeding (noun) means a formal step or action taken as part of a process, especially a legal one. Example: “The court proceedings dragged on for over a year.”

noun
1
A formal step or action taken as part of a process, especially a legal one.
"The court proceedings dragged on for over a year."
2
A published collection of papers or a record from an academic conference.
"His research was published in the conference proceedings."

How to use proceeding

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA step taken in a process, or (in the plural) the official record of what happened at a meeting or trial.

Common pairings
legal proceedings court proceedings conference proceedings

Word forms

proceedings plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The court _____ dragged on for over a year.

Etymology

From proceed + -ing.

hearing legal action litigation conference papers transactions

Related words

Rhymes for proceeding

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Frequently asked questions

What does “proceeding” mean?

The word “proceeding” means a formal step or action taken as part of a process, especially a legal one. In plain terms, a step taken in a process, or (in the plural) the official record of what happened at a meeting or trial.

How do you pronounce “proceeding”?

“Proceeding” is pronounced pruh-SEE-dihng (/pɹəˈsiːdɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “proceeding” in a sentence?

Here is “proceeding” used in a sentence: “The court proceedings dragged on for over a year.”

What part of speech is “proceeding”?

“Proceeding” is a noun.

Is “proceeding” a common word?

“Proceeding” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “proceeding” have?

“Proceeding” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a formal step or action taken as part of a process, especially a legal one.

What is the difference between a proceeding and a procedure?

A proceeding is a formal step or action taken as part of a process, often a legal one, such as a court proceeding, while a procedure is the set method or series of steps used to accomplish something. Proceedings tend to refer to formal, often legal, events, whereas procedures describe general instructions or routines.

What does proceedings mean in a legal context?

In legal use, proceedings refers to the formal actions and steps taken in a court case or official process, such as bringing legal proceedings against someone. It covers the entire sequence of formal steps rather than a single action.

What does proceedings mean in an academic context?

In academic writing, proceedings refers to a published collection of papers or a record from a conference, such as the conference proceedings. This sense is unrelated to legal action and instead describes a formal published record of presented research.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial