Regress — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈrē-ˌgres/ (noun) /ri-ˈgres/ (verb) re·gress

Meaning & Definition of Regress

Regress (noun)

  1. an act or the privilege of going or coming back
  2. reentry
  3. movement backward to a previous and especially worse or more primitive state or condition

Regress (verb)

  1. to make or undergo regress, retrograde
  2. to be subject to or exhibit regression
  3. to tend to approach or revert to a mean

Regress (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level

    "in extreme circumstances, people sometimes regress to the behavior they exhibited in childhood"

    similar: retrogress, return, revert
    related: backslide, lapse, relapse, throw back, ebb, decline, degenerate, drop, fall, retrograde, worsen
    opposite: advance, develop, evolve, progress
    near: grow, mature, ripen

  2. to become worse or of less value

    "the annual celebration has regressed to the point where it's nothing more than an excuse to get drunk"

    similar: atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen, go to pot, go to seed
    related: abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen, lower, reduce, debilitate, undermine, droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt
    opposite: ameliorate, improve, meliorate
    near: better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Regress (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in recession, regression

    similar: recess, recession, regression, retreat, retrogression, backwash, ebb, reflux, retraction, return, reversal, reverse, about-face, turnabout, turnaround
    opposite: advance, advancement, furtherance, going, headway, march, onrush, passage, process, procession, progress, progression, current, drift, flow, flux, stream, way, advent, approach, arrival, coming, nearing

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Regress

The most common words with a similar meaning to Regress:

retrogress, return, revert, atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen, go to pot, go to seed, recess, recession, regression, retreat, retrogression, backwash, reflux, retraction, reversal, reverse, about-face, turnabout, turnaround

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Regress

Words with the opposite meaning of Regress:

advance, develop, evolve, progress, ameliorate, improve, meliorate, advancement, furtherance, going, headway, march, onrush, passage, process, procession, progression, current, drift, flow, flux, stream, way, advent, approach, arrival, coming, nearing

Related Words for Regress

backslide, lapse, relapse, throw back, drop, fall, abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen, lower, reduce, debilitate, undermine, droop, fail

Near Antonyms of Regress

grow, mature, ripen, better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, proceed

Word Forms of Regress

Inflections: regressed, regressing, regresses

Derived words: regressor (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Regress

Middle English regresse, from Anglo-French, from Latin regressus, from regredi to go back, from re- + gradi to go grade:1

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Regress

What does "Regress" mean?

"Regress" means an act or the privilege of going or coming back. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: an act or the privilege of going or coming back. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Regress"?

Other words for "Regress" include retrogress, return, revert, atrophy, crumble, decay, decline and degenerate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Regress" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Regress"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Regress". Common alternatives include retrogress, return, revert, atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend and deteriorate.

What is the opposite of "Regress"?

Antonyms of "Regress" include advance, develop, evolve, progress, ameliorate, improve, meliorate and advancement. Near antonyms include grow, mature, ripen and better.

How do you use "Regress" in a sentence?

Examples of "Regress" in a sentence: "in extreme circumstances, people sometimes regress to the behavior they exhibited in childhood"; "the annual celebration has regressed to the point where it's nothing more than an excuse to get drunk".

Is "Regress" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Regress" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Regress"?

"Regress" is pronounced /ˈrē-ˌgres/ as a noun and /ri-ˈgres/ as a verb and divided into syllables as re·gress.

What is the origin of the word "Regress"?

"Regress" comes from Middle English regresse, from Anglo-French, from Latin regressus, from regredi to go back, from re- + gradi to go grade:1. First known use: 15th century.