proceeding
noun
pro·ceed·ing
prō-ˈsē-diŋ 
prə-
1
: legal action
a divorce proceeding
2
3
4
5
proceedings plural
: an official record of things said or done
Examples of proceeding in a Sentence
The secretary kept a record of the proceedings at the meeting.
She started the proceedings with a brief welcoming speech.
The proceedings of the conference will be published.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tabor and Sheriff Jay Cantrell both said the new quarantine space, along with other spaces being added for medical care, the intake and release of detainees, and court proceedings may allow the sheriff's office to open some areas to new programming.
—
Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
After the hearing, the judge overseeing the proceedings ordered Joshua to serve four life sentences without the possibility of parole.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
The group said its lawyers would be actively investigating the case against Andrew and aim to begin proceedings in the coming weeks.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Before the proceedings began, about 24 people who signed up to speak were allowed to make public comments.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proceeding
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Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
After the hearing, the judge overseeing the proceedings ordered Joshua to serve four life sentences without the possibility of parole.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
The group said its lawyers would be actively investigating the case against Andrew and aim to begin proceedings in the coming weeks.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Before the proceedings began, about 24 people who signed up to speak were allowed to make public comments.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proceeding
Cite this Entry
“Proceeding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proceeding. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
proceeding
noun
pro·ceed·ing
1
: a particular step or series of steps in the enforcement, adjudication, or administration of rights, remedies, laws, or regulations: as
a
: an action, hearing, trial, or application before the court
—
collateral proceeding
: a proceeding that concerns an order, motion, petition, or writ deriving from or sought in relation to another proceeding (as a trial)
a collateral proceeding on a motion to have the judge in a pending trial disqualified
especially
: one in which a collateral attack on a judgment is made
sought to avoid the effect of the judgment in a collateral proceeding after denial of a direct appeal
—
core proceeding
: a proceeding (as one instituted by a debtor against a creditor) that is integral to the administration of a bankruptcy estate and so falls under the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court
—
non-core proceeding
: a proceeding involving a matter that relates to a bankruptcy case but that does not arise under bankruptcy laws, that could be adjudicated in a state court, and over which a bankruptcy court has limited authority
—
special proceeding
: a proceeding (as for condemnation or disbarment) that may be commenced independently of a pending action by petition or motion and from which a final order affecting a substantial right may be immediately appealed
special proceedings created exclusively by statute where a special procedure is appropriate and warranted—Sosebee v. County Line Sch. Dist., 897 S.W.2d 556 (1995)
Sosebee v. County Line Sch. Dist., 897 S.W.2d 556 (1995)
—
summary proceeding
: a civil or criminal proceeding in the nature of a trial that is conducted without formalities (as indictment, pleadings, and usually a jury) for the speedy and peremptory disposition of a matter
—
supplementary proceeding
: a proceeding to discover the assets of a judgment debtor
also
: a proceeding that in some way supplements another
b
: a hearing conducted by an administrative body
c
: a criminal prosecution or investigation
2
plural
: an official record of things done or said
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