Cool MateMove on vs Progress
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Move on
Top 2,000 (common)
Progress
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Progress
| Move on | Progress | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //muːv ɒn//🇺🇸 //muːv ɑn// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈprəʊɡres/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈprɑːɡres//ˈprɑːɡrəs/"]/ |
| Meaning | To start doing something new after something else has ended. | moving forward or getting better at something |
| Example | After the breakup, it took her a while to move on. | She made great progress in her studies this semester. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | move on from the past, move on to bigger things, move on in life, move on after loss, move on quickly | considerable, dramatic, excellent, achieve, make, chart, continue, slow, stall, report, note, in progress, progress from… to…, progress in, a lack of progress, the march of progress, a rate of progress, considerable, dramatic, excellent, achieve, make, chart, continue, slow, stall, report, note, in progress, progress from… to…, progress in, a lack of progress, the march of progress, a rate of progress |
| Antonyms | - | regression, setback, decline |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'move out', which means to leave a place., Using 'move on' without a context of change., Incorrect verb tense (e.g., saying 'moved on to' instead of 'move on to'). | Confused with 'process'; they are different in meaning., Using 'progressing' incorrectly as an adjective., Mistakenly pluralizing it as 'progresses' in non-specific contexts. |
| Usage notes | Used when transitioning from one phase or idea to another. Common in conversations about change, but less formal in professional settings. | Use in both formal and informal contexts. It's common to talk about progress in learning, work, or personal goals. Avoid using in overly casual settings where simpler terms might be more fitting. |
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Frequently asked questions: Move on vs Progress
What's the difference between Move on and Progress?
Move on: To start doing something new after something else has ended. Progress: moving forward or getting better at something
Which is more common: Move on and Progress?
Progress is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Move on: After the breakup, it took her a while to move on. Progress: She made great progress in her studies this semester.
Can I use Move on and Progress interchangeably?
Not always. Move on and Progress are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.