progressive development
noun phraseUK /prəˈɡrɛsɪv dɪˈvɛləpmənt/
US /prəˈɡrɛsɪv dɪˈvɛləpmənt/
the slow, steady way something gets better or grows over time.
The progressive development of the little seed into a tall tree took many years.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. a legal idea that rights or rules grow and change over time to fit new situations.
The judge talked about the progressive development of the law to protect new kinds of workers.
3. the planned building of a community or area in stages, one part after another.
The progressive development of the neighborhood added a park first, then a school, then a library.
4. the way a disease or condition slowly gets worse or changes over time.
Doctors watched the progressive development of the illness week by week.