reverse the progress

USAGE SUMMARY

"reverse the progress" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to go back or undo the progress that has been made. "Reverse" means to change something to the opposite or the previous state. Example: The company's decision to lay off employees will reverse the progress we have made towards our sales goals.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

But on Thursday, Mrs. Clinton did not hide her displeasure with the reversal of the fuel price increases, saying it was "a mistake to reverse the progress that was being made to provide a stronger economic base for Pakistan".

The New York Times

But the FTA warns that Brexit could reverse the progress.

The Guardian - Business

This has the potential to reverse the progress in malaria control.

The Guardian

A change in government, he says, would reverse the progress made during the last four years.

The Guardian

Wyeth's biggest Alzheimer's bet, in partnership with Elan Pharmaceuticals, involves biological products that would actually slow or reverse the progress of the disease by attacking beta-amyloid.

The New York Times

Perversely, it could reverse the progress that civil rights attorneys have made in their efforts to secure legal protections for detainees.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

But the prospect of reversing the progress of the past eight years rankled: "There's a reason Mitch McConnell and all them did that dirty shit.

The New Yorker

The scientific research community believes that the transplanted stem cells may be able to regenerate dead or dying human tissue, reversing the progress of disease.

The New York Times

"This senseless violence is unacceptable and has the potential of reversing the progress made so far in the peace process," he said.

The Guardian

Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" inverts the story of man's fall as told in "Paradise Lost," reversing the progress of Milton's narrative and recasting it as an adventure story about a young girl battling the forces of evil.

The New York Times

"While richer countries invest heavily in flood-defence systems, coastal protection and other projects, poorer countries have no choice but to divert scarce resources, potentially reversing the progress made in tackling poverty," said Kevin Watkins, executive director of ODI.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context clearly indicates what specific progress is being reversed to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "reverse the progress" when you simply mean that progress has stopped or slowed down. "Reverse the progress" specifically indicates that previous gains are being undone, not just that forward movement has ceased.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reverse the progress" functions as a verb phrase, describing an action that negates or undoes previous positive advancements. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for general use.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reverse the progress" is used to describe the undoing or negation of advancements. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what progress is being reversed to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "undo the advancement" or "negate the improvement" can be used to express similar ideas. However, it's important to avoid using "reverse the progress" simply to denote stagnation, as it specifically implies a regression from a previously improved state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undo the advancement

Focuses on negating a specific advancement.

nullify the gain

Emphasizes making a positive outcome ineffective.

negate the improvement

Highlights the cancellation of an improvement.

set back the development

Indicates causing a delay or regression in development.

roll back the gains

Implies retracting previously achieved improvements.

obstruct the advancement

Stresses the act of hindering or blocking progression.

impede the gains

Focuses on hindering progress from being fully realized.

hinder the advancement

Denotes delaying or preventing progress from occurring.

counteract the gains

Stresses actions taken to neutralize positive results.

stifle the improvement

Emphasizes suppressing or preventing further improvement.

FAQs

What does "reverse the progress" mean?

The phrase "reverse the progress" means to undo or negate the advancements that have been made. It signifies a step backward from a previously improved state.

How can I use "reverse the progress" in a sentence?

You can use "reverse the progress" to describe situations where previous achievements are being undermined. For example: "The new policies threaten to reverse the progress made in environmental conservation."

Which is a better alternative to "reverse the progress", "undo the advancement" or "hinder the advancement"?

While both are related, "undo the advancement" is a closer alternative because it implies taking back what has been achieved, whereas "hinder the advancement" suggests preventing further gains.

Is "reverse the progress" formal or informal language?

"Reverse the progress" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the subject matter. It is commonly used in news reports, academic discussions, and business analyses.