What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
flow
Example
The river flowed gently downstream. [flow: verb]
Example
The music had a beautiful flow to it. [flow: noun]
Example
The conversation flowed easily between the two friends. [flowed: past tense]
progression
Example
The disease has a predictable progression. [progression: noun]
Example
The athlete's training showed a steady progression towards their goal. [progression: noun]
Example
The project is making good progression towards completion. [progression: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Flow is more commonly used than progression in everyday language. Flow is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while progression is more specific and often used in technical or professional contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between flow and progression?
Progression is generally considered more formal than flow. It is often used in academic, scientific, or professional contexts to describe the development or advancement of something over time.