failed to progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to progress" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has not made any advancement or improvement. Example: "Despite numerous attempts to improve the project, it ultimately failed to progress beyond the initial stages."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Malformed trochophores showed highly undefined morphological characters and cleavage failed to progress to further developmental stages.

Aquaculture

Christie's boyfriend, Jack Whelbourne, failed to progress in the 500m heats.

The Guardian - Sport

​Hiddink won his first match but during his spell he was frequently criticised as the team failed to progress.

Independent

The draw will be a relief for United, who failed to progress from the group stage last season.

Independent

However, there was disappointment for Serita Solomon and Lucy Hatton, who failed to progress through the 110m hurdles heats.

The Guardian - Sport

They have failed to progress beyond the first round on each occasion, three times on goal difference.

The Guardian - Sport

He managed his native Scotland at the 1986 World Cup following Jock Stein's sudden death, but failed to progress from the group stages.

Independent

The duo scored 70.524 and failed to progress.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Four mutants with normal gametogenesis, which then failed to progress to the ookinete stages in vitro, were nek-2, nek-4, pk7, and gak.

Cell Host and Microbe

Australia's Adam Scott also failed to progress to the weekend.

The Guardian - Sport

And game-day revenue also slid 11 percent, to £98.7 million, as the team failed to progress beyond the group stage of the Champions League this past season.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or project that didn't meet expectations, use "failed to progress" to clearly indicate a lack of advancement. For example, "The negotiations failed to progress due to irreconcilable differences."

Common error

Avoid using "failed to progress" when describing situations where progress was simply slow or incremental. The phrase implies a complete absence of forward movement, not just a slower pace.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to progress" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as the predicate of a clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a lack of advancement or forward movement. Examples show its use across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed to progress" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a lack of advancement or improvement. As Ludwig AI validates, it's versatile, appearing across various contexts, from news and sports to scientific research and formal reports. While there are many alternative phrases, such as "did not advance" or "stalled", each carries slightly different connotations. When using "failed to progress", ensure it accurately reflects a complete absence of forward movement, not just slow progress, to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not advance

Replaces "failed" with "did not", offering a more neutral tone.

stalled

Implies a sudden stop in progress, differing slightly in nuance from a complete failure to progress.

did not improve

Focuses on the lack of betterment rather than the absence of forward movement.

regressed

Suggests a movement backward, the opposite of progress.

remained stagnant

Highlights a lack of change or development, emphasizing inactivity.

reached a standstill

Indicates a complete halt in progress, often due to an obstacle.

flatlined

Suggests a lack of activity or growth, often used in business or medical contexts.

ground to a halt

Similar to "reached a standstill", emphasizing a gradual cessation of progress.

ceased to develop

Emphasizes the termination of developmental processes.

never took off

Suggests that something never became successful or started properly.

FAQs

How can I use "failed to progress" in a sentence?

You can use "failed to progress" to describe situations where there was no advancement or improvement. For example, "The bill "failed to progress" beyond the committee stage."

What's a more formal alternative to "failed to progress"?

A more formal alternative could be "did not advance" or "proved unable to proceed". For example, "The project "did not advance" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What can I say instead of "failed to progress" in a sports context?

In sports, you might say "failed to qualify", "did not make it past", or "was eliminated". For example, "The team failed to qualify for the finals."

What is the difference between "failed to progress" and "stalled"?

"Failed to progress" indicates a complete lack of advancement, while "stalled" suggests that progress was interrupted or halted temporarily. "Stalled" implies a potential for future progress, whereas "failed to progress" often suggests a more permanent lack of movement.