progressively nearing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "progressively nearing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gradual approach or movement towards a particular point or goal over time. Example: "As the deadline approaches, the team is progressively nearing the completion of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Results: Both groups showed decreased mobility in all movement dimensions that progressively recovered to near presurgical levels over the 5-year follow-up period.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology

Some road construction sites use smiley signs to influence driver behaviour: At the start of the road works the smiley is sad – but it gets progressively happier as you're nearing the end of the construction zone.

BBC

These observations are consistent with the near-Earth initiation model for substorms with multiple current disruption sites moving progressively tailward near the late stage of substorm expansion.

Advances in Space Research

Moving rightward across the standard form of periodic table, nonmetals adopt structures that have progressively fewer nearest neighbours.

Wikipedia

Each one brought us progressively closer to the single world order of today, which is now nearing its end, everywhere opposed, everywhere grappling with hostile forces.

SEP

And the sound will progressively get softer as it nears the shut-off time.

Huffington Post

In cases with extensive bone involvement and a wide incision, the healing is progressively slower and, near the end, may be completely arrested.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

The anterior pituitary progressively decreases in signal intensity on T1-weighted images with signal drop to near isointensity with the posterior pons by 6 weeks of age [1, 2].

Insights into Imaging

Assessment for open appendicectomy is related to gestational age as the appendix progressively relocates during pregnancy, typically from McBurney's point upwards from the iliac crest to near the gallbladder.

British Journal of Surgery

The accretionary tabular layers progressively lost height till near 3000 years BP, representing continuous relative SL and storm energy fall, when the first major swale was constructed.

Sedimentary Geology

where W is an empirical 8×8 weighting matrix, whose elements wi,j∈[0,1] are set to 1 along the patch borders and progressively decrease to 0 near the center.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "progressively nearing" to describe a process or state that's advancing incrementally towards a specific outcome or destination. This implies a gradual and continuous approach.

Common error

Avoid using "progressively nearing" in overly formal or technical writing where simpler alternatives like "approaching" or "advancing" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "progressively nearing" functions as a verbal phrase, specifically a present participle phrase, that modifies a noun or pronoun. It describes an ongoing action of gradual approach.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Progressively nearing" is a grammatically correct verbal phrase used to describe a gradual and continuous approach toward a specific state or goal. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct, but examples are missing, indicating low frequency of use. While suitable for various contexts, simpler alternatives might be preferable in overly formal writing. This phrase conveys a sense of incremental advancement, distinguishing it from more abrupt or sudden approaches. Consider related phrases like "gradually approaching" or "slowly getting closer" to fine-tune your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Gradually approaching

Focuses on the gradual aspect of approach, omitting the continuous development implied by "progressively".

Slowly getting closer

Emphasizes the slow pace of the approach, lacking the sense of advancement in stages.

Approaching incrementally

Highlights the step-by-step nature of the approach.

Advancing steadily towards

Implies a constant, unwavering movement towards a destination.

Moving ever closer

Emphasizes the continuous reduction of distance.

Drawing nearer

A more concise and literary way to express a similar idea.

Trending toward

Suggests a general direction or tendency rather than a physical approach.

Evolving towards

Implies a gradual development or transformation leading to a specific state.

Converging gradually

Suggests multiple elements coming together slowly.

Closing in slowly

Emphasizes the act of reducing the gap between two points slowly.

FAQs

How can I use "progressively nearing" in a sentence?

Use "progressively nearing" to describe something gradually approaching a state or goal. For example, "As the deadline approaches, the project team is progressively nearing completion".

What are some alternatives to "progressively nearing"?

Alternatives include "gradually approaching", "slowly getting closer", or "drawing nearer", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "progressively nearing" formal or informal?

"Progressively nearing" is relatively neutral in tone, but it may sound slightly more formal than simpler alternatives like "getting closer". Context determines appropriateness.

What does "progressively" add to the meaning of "nearing"?

"Progressively" emphasizes the gradual, incremental nature of the approach. It highlights that the process is advancing step-by-step, not suddenly or abruptly.