verb
regress
REE-grehs
Regress (verb) means to move backward to an earlier, less developed stage. Example: “Under stress, some adults regress and start acting childishly.”
verb
1
To move backward to an earlier, less developed stage.
"Under stress, some adults regress and start acting childishly."
"The patient's condition seemed to regress after the treatment stopped."
noun
1
A return or movement back to an earlier state.
"Doctors were alarmed by the regress in her recovery."
How to use regress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo go backward or fall back to how things were before, instead of moving forward.
Easily confused with
recess →
regrets
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Word forms
- Plural
- regresses
- Third person singular
- regresses
- Past tense
- regressed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Under stress, some adults _____ and start acting childishly.
Etymology
From Latin regressus, past participle of regredior, "to go back" (re- + gradior, "to step, go").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for regress
See all rhymes for regress →Frequently asked questions
What does “regress” mean?
The word “regress” means to move backward to an earlier, less developed stage. In plain terms, to go backward or fall back to how things were before, instead of moving forward.
How do you pronounce “regress”?
“Regress” is pronounced REE-grehs (/ˈɹiːˌɡɹɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “regress” in a sentence?
Here is “regress” used in a sentence: “Under stress, some adults regress and start acting childishly.”
What is another word for “regress”?
Words with a similar meaning to “regress” include retrogress.
What part of speech is “regress”?
Depending on how it is used, “regress” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “regress” come from?
The word “regress” comes from Latin. From Latin regressus, past participle of regredior, "to go back" (re- + gradior, "to step, go").
How many meanings does “regress” have?
“Regress” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move backward to an earlier, less developed stage.
