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View synonyms for

procession

[ pruh-sesh-uhn ]

noun

  1. the act of moving along or proceeding proceeding in orderly succession or in a formal and ceremonious manner, as a line of people, animals, vehicles, etc.
  2. the line or body of persons or things moving along in such a manner.
  3. Ecclesiastical. an office, litany, etc., said or sung in a religious procession.
  4. Theology. the emanation of the Holy Spirit from the Father and later, in the Western Church, from the Son: distinguished from the “generation” of the Son and the “unbegottenness” of the Father.
  5. the act of coming forth from a source.


verb (used without object)

  1. to go in procession.

procession

/ əˈɛʃə /

noun

  1. the act of proceeding in a regular formation
  2. a group of people or things moving forwards in an orderly, regular, or ceremonial manner
  3. a hymn, litany, etc, sung in a procession
  4. Christianity the emanation of the Holy Spirit
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. rare.
    intr to go in procession
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of procession1

before 1150; early Middle English (< Old French ) < Late Latin ōō- (stem of ōō ) a religious procession, literally, a marching on. See process, -ion
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Word History and Origins

Origin of procession1

C12: via Old French from Latin ōō a marching forwards
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

National commemorations and events will begin on 5 May with a military procession of 1,300 members of the armed forces.

From

He starts the film at a speed-dating event where, in a great montage, he disappoints a procession of dewy singletons who shrivel up when this hunk comes across as cold and rude.

From

The procession lasted a little under 40 minutes.

From

As he passed through the crowds, his procession paused a number of times as babies were brought over for him to bless.

From

Commemorations for this year's VE Day will begin on the Early May Bank Holiday on 5 May, with a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace and an RAF flypast over London.

From

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More About Procession

doesprocession mean?

A procession is a line of people or vehicles moving along in an orderly and often ceremonial way.

A very common example is a funeral procession, which is the line of cars or people traveling together to a burial. A parade is another kind of procession.

Procession is the noun form of the verb process, meaning to proceed in or as if in a procession.

Example: The procession was so long that they had to block traffic so it could stay together.

Where doesprocession come from?

The first records of the word procession come from the 1100s. It comes from the Latin word ōō-, which refers to a religious procession and literally means “a marching on” or “a marching forward.” The verb process is in fact a back formation of procession—which means the word procession came first and the verb process formed from it.

Processions are usually at least somewhat formal, and they’re often seen at religious or other ceremonial gatherings. At graduations, students and faculty members often enter in a long procession. Similar processions are seen during religious ceremonies or events like weddings. Funeral processions allow mourners to stay together so that they can arrive at the burial site or other ceremony at the same time.

A fancy name for a ceremonial procession is cortege.

Did you know ... ?

are some other forms related to procession?

are some synonyms for procession?

are some words that share a root or word element with procession?

are some words that often get used in discussing procession?

How isprocession used in real life?

Procession is perhaps most commonly used in the phrase funeral procession. It usually refers to something that’s formal and ceremonial.

Try usingprocession!

At which of the following events might there be a procession?

A. funeral
B. wedding
C. graduation
D. all of the above

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