'work-in-progress' originates from the combination of 'work' and 'progress', where 'work' meant 'activity involving mental or physical effort' and 'progress' meant 'forward or onward movement towards a destination'.

'work-in-progress' evolved from the phrase 'work in progress' used in business and project management contexts to describe tasks that are underway.

Initially, it meant 'tasks that are being worked on', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.