In progress means happening now: started but not yet finished. People use it for renovations, exams, meetings and orders. Signs on doors say Meeting in progress.
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be in progress; noun + in progress (meeting/work in progress); a work in progress
- Please don't go in, there's an exam in progress in Room 4.
- The roadworks are still in progress, so the bus takes a different route.
- My Spanish is a work in progress, but I can order food without English now.
What changed
First versionThe renovation of our kitchen is still in process.
RevisionThe renovation of our kitchen is still in progress.
In process can look like the natural choice, since a process is going on. But for something that's happening now, English says in progress. Process usually appears in a different structure: We're in the process of moving, meaning “we're moving right now”.
A work in progress is something unfinished, and people happily say it about themselves. My Spanish is a work in progress: it's still developing. I'm a work in progress admits that you're not perfect yet and are still working on yourself. Make progress is different: it means “improve, move forward”.
Your turn
Sorry, you can't use the hall right now, a yoga class is ___.
Show the answer
in progress — The hall is busy because the class has already started, so it's in progress. Making progress means improving and doesn't explain why you can't use the hall right now.
Write about something you've started but haven't finished yet. Say what it is and when you plan to finish it.
The renovation of my bathroom is still in progress, and I hope to finish it by the end of May.
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