Library / English Dictionary

REGRESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Returning to a former state

Synonyms:

regress; regression; retrogression; retroversion; reversion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

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

Derivation:

regress (go back to a previous state)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

reasoning backward; regress

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

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

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

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Go back to bad behavior

Example:

Those who recidivate are often minor criminals

Synonyms:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

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

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

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Get worse or fall back to a previous condition

Synonyms:

regress; retrograde; retrogress

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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 3

Meaning:

Go back to a previous state

Example:

We reverted to the old rules

Synonyms:

regress; retrovert; return; revert; turn back

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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 4

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

Credits

 Context examples: 

Keratoacanthomas affect males more frequently than females and the majority tend to regress spontaneously.

(Keratoacanthoma, NCI Thesaurus)

It is formed by enlargement and overgrowth of cicatricial tissue and regresses spontaneously.

(Hypertrophic Scar, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

An umbilical cyst that arises from allantoic tissue that did not regress during gestational development.

(Allantoic Cyst, NCI Thesaurus)

The endometrial layer that develops around the embryo then slowly regresses until the fourth month of pregnancy when the membrane presses against the decidua parietalis and begins to rapidly degenerate.

(Decidua Capsularis, NCI Thesaurus)

Without progesterone, the corpus luteum regresses, and menstruation is initiated.

(Anti-human Chorionic Gonadotropin Vaccine, NCI Thesaurus)