non-progressive
|non-pro-gress-ive|
🇺🇸
/nɑn-prəˈɡrɛsɪv/
🇬🇧
/nɒn-prəˈɡrɛsɪv/
not progressive / not continuous
Etymology
'non-progressive' originates from Modern English, formed by the negative prefix 'non-' + the adjective 'progressive' (from 'progress').
'progressive' ultimately comes from Latin 'progressus' (past participle of 'progredi', 'to step forward'); it entered English via Old French/Latin-derived Medieval and Early Modern English forms and developed into the adjective 'progressive', to which the English prefix 'non-' was later attached to create 'non-progressive'.
Originally, 'progressive' meant 'moving forward' or 'favoring progress'; the compound 'non-progressive' was formed to mean simply 'not progressive' and in grammar developed a specific sense of 'not using the progressive (continuous) aspect'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a grammatical term referring to the non-progressive aspect or to a verb/construction that does not show progressive (continuous) action.
Teachers often explain the difference between the progressive and the non-progressive.
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Adjective 1
not using or characterized by the progressive (continuous) aspect; describing verbs or constructions that do not express ongoing action (i.e., not formed with the -ing progressive).
In English, stative verbs such as 'know' are usually non-progressive.
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Adjective 2
not favoring or associated with social, political, or technological progress; conservative or lacking development.
The company's approach was criticized as non-progressive and out of date.
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Last updated: 2025/11/16 15:59