REGRESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does regress mean? 

• REGRESS (noun)
  The noun REGRESS has 2 senses:

1. the reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence

2. returning to a former state

  Familiarity information: REGRESS used as a noun is rare.

• REGRESS (verb)
  The verb REGRESS has 4 senses:

1. go back to a statistical means

2. go back to a previous state

3. get worse or fall back to a previous condition

4. go back to bad behavior

  Familiarity information: REGRESS used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REGRESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

reasoning backward; regress

Hypernyms ("regress" is a kind of...):

abstract thought; logical thinking; reasoning (thinking that is coherent and logical)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Returning to a former state

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

regress; regression; retrogression; retroversion; reversion

Hypernyms ("regress" is a kind of...):

reversal (a change from one state to the opposite state)

Derivation:

regress (go back to a previous state)

• REGRESS (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they regress    ... he / she / it regresses   
Past simple: regressed   
Past participle: regressed   
-ing form: regressing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Go back to a statistical means

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "regress" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Go back to a previous state

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

regress; retrovert; return; revert; turn back

Context example:

We reverted to the old rules

Hypernyms (to "regress" is one way to...):

change by reversal; reverse; turn (change to the contrary)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "regress"):

fall back; lapse; recidivate; regress; relapse; retrogress (go back to bad behavior)

resile (return to the original position or state after being stretched or compressed)

go back; recover; recuperate (regain a former condition after a financial loss)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

regress; regression (returning to a former state)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Get worse or fall back to a previous condition

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

regress; retrograde; retrogress

Hypernyms (to "regress" is one way to...):

decline; worsen (grow worse)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "regress"):

drop off; fall back; fall behind; recede (retreat)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Antonym:

progress (develop in a positive way)

Derivation:

regressive (opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Go back to bad behavior

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

fall back; lapse; recidivate; regress; relapse; retrogress

Context example:

Those who recidivate are often minor criminals

Hypernyms (to "regress" is one way to...):

regress; retrovert; return; revert; turn back (go back to a previous state)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

It is elevated and does not extend beyond the original boundaries of the wound; the elevation may stabilize or regress spontaneously.

(Hypertrophic Scar, NCI Thesaurus)

Erythroleukemia that is responding to therapy, i.e. It is not progressing and possibly regressing.

(Erythroleukemia in Remission, NCI Thesaurus)

A capillary hemangioma that may regress spontaneously.

(Infantile Hemangioma, NCI Thesaurus)

A myeloid sarcoma that is responding to therapy, i.e. is not progressing and possibly regressing. —2003

(Myeloid Sarcoma in Remission, NCI Thesaurus)

It often regresses either spontaneously or after reduction in immunosuppression.

(Plasmacytic Hyperplasia Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)

Scientists took late-stage cancer cells from a patient and used technology to genetically regress those cells to a stem cell state.

(New Test May Detect Pancreatic Cancer Early, VOA News)

The tumor nodules may regress spontaneously.

(Disseminated Peritoneal Leiomyomatosis, NCI Thesaurus)

Following the TIL infusion, all seven metastatic lung nodules in the patient regressed, and the regression persisted for nine months.

(Cellular immunotherapy targets a common human cancer mutation, NIH)

The tumor commonly occurs in young dogs and may regress spontaneously.

(Benign Histiocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Acute erythroid leukemia that is responding to therapy, i.e. It is not progressing and possibly regressing

(Acute Erythroid Leukemia in Remission, NCI Thesaurus)