As you might guess, regress is the opposite of progress. So if a disease regresses, that's generally a good thing, but in most other ways we prefer not to regress.

Following removal of the tumour, all the symptoms regressed. The disease may regress if the patient stops smoking.

REGRESS definition: to move backward; go back. See examples of regress used in a sentence.

regress verb To slip from a higher or better condition to a former, usually lower or poorer one:

regress (to something) to return to an earlier or less advanced form or way of behaving. Definition of regress verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example …

Dec 9, 2025 · regress (third-person singular simple present regresses, present participle regressing, simple past and past participle regressed) (psychology) To re-develop behavior one had previously …

To regress is to return to a former state or condition, and not usually in a good way. It often means "relapse" or "get worse."

When people or things regress, they return to an earlier and less advanced stage of development.

To return to an earlier, less advanced state or condition, often as a result of a setback or failure. "The technology might regress if continuous innovation isn't encouraged." It can also mean to revert to an …

regress vb /rɪˈɡrɛs/ (intransitive) to return or revert, as to a former place, condition, or mode of behaviour (transitive) to measure the extent to which (a dependent variable) is associated with one or more …