proceeded

USAGE SUMMARY

"proceeded" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is the past tense form of the verb "to proceed," which means to move on or to go forward. For example: After the meeting, we proceeded to the conference room for the next event.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Running to more than 2,000 pages and costing hundreds of millions of euros, the report concluded that Lowry proceeded to bypass consideration by his cabinet colleagues and thereby not only influenced but also delivered the result that Esat Digifone had won the evaluation process, ultimately leading to the licensing award.

The Guardian

"The program-makers made the decision not to include details of further abuse since the case had not proceeded and evidence had been regarded as inadmissible.

The Guardian

Putin proceeded to suggest that the charges were an attempt to thwart the re-election of Fifa president Sepp Blatter and hinted that they were related to Russia hosting the 2018 World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

My manager came to me and said, 'Why?'" Murphy proceeded to explain that the reason he considered rejecting the offer was because the academy had consistently failed to recognise black actors.

The Guardian

The military deployment proceeded as activists warned of a critical moment.

The Guardian

With John O'Shea and Santiago Vergini falling into defensive pieces, Bolasie proceeded to shoot beneath Costel Pantilimon and then lob Sunderland's goalkeeper before squeezing his final shot inside a post.

The Guardian - Sport

The legendary fighter joined Letterman shortly after outpointing Marvin Hagler for the middleweight championship – and proceeded to throw weapons-grade shade at his vanquished opponent.

The Guardian - Sport

As the march proceeded from Union Station to the Capitol reflecting pool, the crowd sang various chants, from "Hey hey, ho ho, mass surveillance has got to go" to "They say wire tap?

The Guardian

I mean, they all saw it because it made a lot of money - I think they recognised it as being a brilliant film - but I don't think they were very comfortable with it.' The success of American Beauty opened doors and she proceeded to corner a niche in nubile young women.

The Guardian - Film

Yet still seemingly undaunted, Blatter had proceeded to his coronation.

The Guardian - Sport

9.59am: So, it looks like Holland 1, Spain 0 in the battle of the bond sales - after the Dutch auction proceeded smoothly, but Spain saw its borrowing costs nearly double.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proceeded" to clearly indicate the sequence of actions or events, particularly when emphasizing a logical or chronological order. For instance, "After the introduction, the speaker proceeded to outline the main points of the presentation."

Common error

Avoid using "proceeded" in situations where a simpler verb like "went" or "continued" would be more appropriate. Overusing "proceeded" can make your writing sound overly formal or stilted in informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "proceeded" is as the past tense of the verb "proceed", indicating an action that has already taken place. It is typically used to describe the continuation or advancement of an event, process, or action. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "proceeded" functions as the past tense of the verb 'proceed,' effectively conveying the continuation or progression of an action or event. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse sources, most prominently in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While its usage is acceptable in both formal and informal writing, it is generally more suitable for formal contexts to emphasize logical sequence. Consider alternatives like "went on" or "continued" for simpler expressions. Remember, while "proceeded" is useful for detailing sequences, be mindful of overuse which can make writing sound stilted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progressed

Implies a development or improvement over time.

continued

Highlights the uninterrupted nature of the action.

went on

Focuses more on the continuation aspect of the action.

moved forward

Indicates a directional advance or progress.

carried on

Emphasizes the sustained effort or activity.

advanced

Suggests a deliberate step toward a goal or objective.

followed through

Emphasizes the completion of an action or plan.

set about

Highlights the initiation and undertaking of a task.

undertook

Focuses on formally starting a project or task.

acted upon

Focuses on taking action based on a decision or plan.

FAQs

How can I use "proceeded" in a sentence?

You can use "proceeded" to show the continuation or sequence of events, such as "After the meeting, the team "proceeded" with the project".

What are some alternatives to using "proceeded"?

Alternatives to "proceeded" include phrases like "went on", "continued", or "moved forward", depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "proceeded" in formal writing?

While "proceeded" is suitable for formal writing, consider whether a simpler verb might be clearer and more concise. Overuse can make the writing seem unnecessarily complex.

What's the difference between "proceeded" and "followed"?

"Proceeded" implies a continuation or next step in a planned sequence, whereas "followed" suggests moving or acting in accordance with someone or something else.