progresser

Progresser is a French verb meaning to make progress, to advance, or to improve. It can describe physical movement forward as well as development in skills, knowledge, or conditions. The phrase faire des progrès (to make progress) is common, and progresser is typically followed by a complement such as dans, en, or à to specify the area of progress: progresser dans ses études, progresser en mathématiques, progresser rapidement.

Etymology and usage: Progresser comes from Old French progresser, from Latin progressus, formed from pro- (forward) and gradi (to step). The sense of moving forward or developing has remained stable across centuries, and the verb is widely used in education, work, health, sports, and daily life.

Conjugation and forms: Progresser is a regular -er verb. In the present tense: je progresse, tu progresses, il progresse, nous progressons, vous progressez, ils progressent. The imperfect is progres-sais: je progressais, tu progressais, il progressait, nous progressions, vous progressiez, ils progressaient. The past participle is progressé, used with auxiliary avoir to form the passé composé: j'ai progressé. The future tense is progresserai, and the conditional is progresserais. Subjunctive present forms include que je progresse, que tu progresses, qu’il progresse, que nous progressions, que vous progressiez, qu’ils progressent.

See also: In French, the related concept of making progress is often expressed with faire des progrès, advancing in a field is progresser dans un domaine, and general improvement is implied by context.