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⇱ PROCESS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Definition
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1
a
: a series of actions that produce something or that lead to a particular result
manufacturing processes
Few cooking methods can beat roasting for ease—the process is largely unattended.—👁 Image
Keith Dresser
The book is still in process [=being worked on].
b
archaic : a series of actions, happenings, etc., going on : proceeding
Behind the arras I'll convey myself / To hear the process.—👁 Image
Shakespeare
2
a(1)
: a series of changes that happen naturally
the process of growth
the aging process
conditions that speed the composting process
(2)
: a continuing natural or biological activity or function
such life processes as breathing
b
: a continuous operation or treatment especially in manufacture
the process of making steel
a chemical process
3
a
: the whole course of proceedings in a legal action see also due process sense 1
b
: the summons, mandate, or writ used by a court to compel the appearance of the defendant in a legal action or compliance with its orders
4
: a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure
a bone process
the long process of a nerve cell

process

2 of 4

verb (1)

processed; processing; processes

transitive verb

1
a
: to subject to a special process or treatment (as in the course of manufacture or film development)
Food is often processed before it is packaged and sold.
b(1)
: to subject to or handle through an established usually routine set of procedures
process insurance claims
Your application will be processed in 5 to 10 business days.
(2)
: to integrate sensory information received so that an action or response is generated
The brain processes visual images relayed from the retina.
(3)
: to take in and use (as information) : subject to examination or analysis
computers process data
It took me a while to process what the professor was saying.
c
: to chemically treat (hair)
processing hair with highlights
2
a
: to proceed against by law
b(1)
: to take out a summons against
(2)
: to serve a summons on

process

3 of 4

adjective

1
: treated or made by a special process especially when involving synthesis or artificial modification
2
: made by or used in a mechanical or photomechanical duplicating process
3
: of or involving illusory effects usually introduced during processing of the film
processed; processing; processes

intransitive verb

chiefly British
: to move in a procession

Synonyms of process

Examples of process in a Sentence

Noun How does the election process work? Learning a foreign language can be a long process. We're remodeling our house. The whole process is expected to take a few months. Breathing and the circulation of blood are life processes. a bony process on the foot
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The process to adopt a child from foster care includes training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you. —👁 Image
Mare Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026 But, during the regular season, teams without a hope of making the playoffs started scrambling to detonate their records to get a shot at a future star player—and some teams, most notably the 76ers of the twenty-tens, engaged in a long process of strategic losing in order to stockpile picks. —👁 Image
Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
Before the name can be changed, a formal request must be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration, which must process the change in various flight charting and navigation databases, and the airport signs must be changed. —👁 Image
David Shepardson, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026 Enríquez said there's a lot of shock and grief with people in the community processing the Chavez allegations, which were first reported in an investigation by The New York Times. —👁 Image
Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Regrind silicone used in the speaker is made by reclaiming and upcycling post-process and post-consumer silicone scraps that might otherwise end up in landfill. —👁 Image
Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2022 This may have positioned several large cities that chose to pre-process ballots to deliver election results earlier than expected. —👁 Image
Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 4 Nov. 2020 See All Example Sentences for process

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English proces, from Anglo-French procés, from Latin processus, from procedere

Verb (2)

back-formation from procession entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of process was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing process

Rhymes for process

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Process.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/process. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
a
: advance entry 2 sense 1
the process of time
b
: something going on
2
a
: a natural continuing action or series of actions or changes
the process of growth
life processes
mental processes
b
: a series of actions or operations leading to a result
a manufacturing process
3
: the carrying on of a legal action
due process of law
4
: a bodily part that sticks out or is conspicuous : outgrowth
a bony process

process

2 of 2 verb
1
: to change or prepare by special treatment
process foods
2
a
: to take care of according to a routine
process people looking for a job
process insurance claims
b
: to take in and organize for use in a variety of ways
computers process data
process information

Medical Definition

1
a
: a natural progressively continuing operation or development marked by a series of gradual changes that succeed one another in a relatively fixed way and lead toward a particular result or end
the process of growth
the process of digestion
b
: a natural continuing activity or function
such life processes as breathing and the circulation of the blood
2
: a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure
a bone process
a nerve cell process

Legal Definition

1
: a continuous operation, art, or method especially in manufacture
whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process…may obtain a patent therefor—👁 Image
U.S. Code
2
b
: a means (as a summons) used to compel a defendant to appear in court
broadly : a means by which a court acquires or exercises jurisdiction over a person or property see also mesne process compare notice, service

Note: In civil procedure, service of a summons on a defendant is considered constitutionally sufficient process, although usually a copy of the complaint must also be provided according to the local rule of procedure.

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