present progressive
Americannoun
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a verb construction, in English made up of the auxiliary verb be in the present tense followed by the present participle of the main verb, used especially to indicate that a present action or event is in progress, being repeated, or of a temporary nature, and also often used to express the future, such as I am making supper right now, Who is hammering on the door? and They are flying to France next week.
adjective
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designating a verb construction used to express a present action or event that is in progress, being repeated, or of a temporary nature, and also often used to express the future.
Etymology
Origin of present progressive
First recorded in 1800–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There is beginning and ending to present progressive activity.
From The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays by Joly, John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.