a meeting in progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a meeting in progress" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a meeting is currently taking place and is ongoing. Example: "Please do not disturb; there is a meeting in progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Mr. Hamid's cousin, Mahmoud al-Qaidi, said two men approached Mr. Hamid's office next to his home at 7 45 p.m. and joined a meeting in progress with six others.

The New York Times

Safe at the scruffy Crown Hotel, he seeks refuge in the smoking room and happens upon a meeting in progress, 12 men with names as Dickensian as his own: Frost and Clinch and Mannering, to name a few, even a minister named Devlin.

The New York Times - Books

Once inside, he discovered a meeting in progress.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

On May 12 , 1995 police received a 911 call reporting a gang meeting in progress at a small park in the Bronx.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, we have a Fed meeting in progress today with the statement tomorrow at 2pm and then Yellen will say a few words to really confuse things - so we have that to look forward to!  .

Huffington Post

There was a small black-and-white monitor in one corner showing a large, noisy meeting in progress.

The New Yorker

Be considerate around meeting rooms, even if you're not sure whether or not a meeting is in progress – always assume there is one and be on the safe side.

WikiHow

At Harlem Sq. a meeting was in progress.

The New Yorker

A security guard blocked access to villas behind the main hotel, telling a reporter that a meeting was in progress.

The New York Times

While a meeting is in progress, Cal will let you add tasks that will be synced with Any.do and take photos or record video and audio.

TechCrunch

In 1997, when reviewing the strategy progress during a meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the IAG found little progress in the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a meeting in progress" to politely indicate that an interruption should be avoided, such as placing a sign on a door: "Do not disturb: a meeting in progress".

Common error

Ensure the context clarifies which meeting is in progress, especially if multiple meetings are happening simultaneously. For instance, specify "the project team's meeting is in progress" rather than a general statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a meeting in progress" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject complement or as part of a larger sentence to indicate the current state of affairs. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a meeting in progress" is a grammatically sound and readily understood way to convey that a meeting is currently taking place. According to Ludwig, it functions as a noun phrase indicating a present state. Though its frequency is relatively rare, it's commonly found in neutral contexts, particularly in news and media. Alternative phrasing includes "a meeting is underway" and "a meeting is currently taking place". When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding which specific meeting is referenced to avoid any potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a meeting is underway

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the meeting, similar to "a meeting in progress".

a meeting is currently taking place

Directly states that a meeting is happening now, very close in meaning to the original phrase.

a meeting is ongoing

Highlights the continuous nature of the meeting, implying it has started and is continuing.

a meeting is in session

Suggests a more formal setting, like a court or legislative body, but still conveys the idea of an active meeting.

the meeting has commenced

Focuses on the start of the meeting and its current state of being active.

a live meeting

Emphasizes the real-time aspect of the meeting, suggesting it's happening right now.

meeting in session

Shorter version of "a meeting is in session", implying the meeting is currently active.

an active meeting

Focuses on the dynamic and engaged nature of the meeting.

the meeting is proceeding

Highlights the forward movement and continuation of the meeting.

a running meeting

Suggests the meeting is actively happening and in progress.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a meeting in progress"?

Alternatives include "a meeting is underway", "a meeting is in session", or "a meeting is taking place", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a meeting in progress" in formal writing?

Yes, "a meeting in progress" is suitable for formal writing. While it's not overly sophisticated, it's grammatically correct and clearly conveys that a meeting is currently happening. Using a more elaborate phrase like "a meeting is currently being held" is also appropriate, but not mandatory.

What's the difference between "a meeting in progress" and "a meeting is scheduled"?

"A meeting in progress" indicates that the meeting is happening right now. "A meeting is scheduled" simply means that a meeting has been planned for a future time, but it isn't necessarily happening at the moment.

Can I use "meeting in progress" without the "a"?

While understood, omitting the article "a" from "a meeting in progress" makes the phrase sound less formal and slightly incomplete. It's better to include the "a" for grammatical correctness, especially in formal writing.