Proceed

Proceed is a verb with senses centered on moving forward in time or action. The core meaning is to begin or continue a course of action. In intransitive use, a project or plan proceeds, meaning it advances. In transitive constructions, one does not “proceed” something to another person; instead one proceeds with a task or proceeds to the next step. The related noun form is proceed? or more commonly proceedings, which refer to the formal steps or events in a process.

Etymology: proceed comes from Latin procedere, from pro- “forward” + cedere “to go, yield.” The word has long carried a sense of forward movement, whether in daily tasks, legal actions, or formal proceedings.

Usage and contexts: In everyday language, one might say “Please proceed” or “We will proceed with the plan” to indicate continuation. In legal contexts, phrases such as “to proceed against” or “to commence proceedings against” describe initiating legal action. In court or organizational settings, “the proceedings” denotes the formal steps, events, or records of the process, such as a meeting’s recorded proceedings.

Distinctions: Proceed emphasizes forward movement or continuation of an action, rather than the overall outcome. Progress, by contrast, often highlights overall improvement or development toward a goal. The noun form “proceedings” specifically conveys formal processes or the records of a legal or organizational context.

See also: advance, continue, commence, initiate, progress, proceedings.