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Regressing Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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regressing

[rɪˈɡrɛsɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

psychology

To return to a former or less developed state, especially mentally or emotionally.

Synonyms

backslide, retrogress, revert.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
regressing

Used when discussing situations or conditions that are returning to a less developed or a worse state, often in medical, scientific, or psychological contexts.

  • The patient's condition is regressing after the initial improvement.
  • If the economy continues regressing, we might face another recession.
revert

Commonly used to describe returning to a previous state, condition, or practice. It can be neutral or negative depending on the context.

  • After the trial period, the software will revert to its original version.
  • He promised not to revert to his previous behavior.
backslide

Typically used in personal or informal contexts to describe a return to bad habits or negative behaviors, often after making progress or improvement.

  • He was doing well with his diet but started to backslide after a few months.
  • After years of sobriety, she began to backslide into old habits.
retrogress

A more formal term, often used in academic or historical contexts, to describe a return to a worse or less advanced state.

  • Societal norms can sometimes retrogress under oppressive regimes.
  • The technology seemed to retrogress during the economic decline.

Examples of usage

  • The patient seemed to be regressing in his therapy sessions.
  • The stress of the situation caused him to regress to a childlike state.
Context #2 | Verb

general

To move backward or away from a previous position.

Synonyms

backtrack, recede, retreat.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
regressing

Used when discussing a return to a less developed or worse state, often in personal development, health, or scientific terms.

  • After making so much progress in therapy, he's unfortunately regressing.
  • The research indicates that without continued support, patients might start regressing.
retreat

Used to describe a situation where someone or something withdraws or pulls back from a challenging or unfavorable situation. Can be both physical or metaphorical.

  • The soldiers were forced to retreat from the battlefield.
  • When facing criticism, it's important not to retreat into isolation.
backtrack

Commonly used when someone changes their mind or retracts a statement or action. Often implies a correction or reconsideration of a previous decision.

  • He had to backtrack after realizing his initial decision was flawed.
  • Don't let them pressure you to backtrack on your commitments.
recede

Generally refers to something moving back or diminishing from a previous state, such as water levels, hairlines, or pain.

  • As the floodwaters recede, people are beginning to assess the damage.
  • His hairline is starting to recede due to age.

Examples of usage

  • The car started regressing down the hill.
  • The company's profits began to regress after the economic downturn.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • In psychology, regressing can mean acting younger than one’s age, often as a way to cope with stress.
  • Some therapeutic approaches use regression techniques to help individuals explore their childhood experiences.
  • Regression can sometimes be a sign of mental fatigue or trauma, leading an individual to revert to old behaviors.

Mathematics

  • In statistics, regression analysis is a method for finding relationships between variables, helping to predict one based on the other.
  • The term 'regression' in statistics originated in the 19th century, referring to the tendency of children to regress towards the mean height of their parents.
  • It is a powerful tool used in various fields including economics, biology, and social sciences for data predictions.

Cultural References

  • In literature, characters may regress as a thematic element, showcasing personal struggles or developmental arcs.
  • Many movies depict protagonists regressing as a result of trauma, highlighting the importance of facing one's past.
  • The idea of regression appears in many forms of art, illustrating a societal commentary on how people can lose progress in the face of challenges.

Technology

  • In software development, regression testing ensures that recent code changes haven't adversely affected existing features.
  • The phrase 'regression to the mean' is often used in data analysis, warning that extreme outcomes tend to return closer to average over time.
  • With updates, sometimes programs might regress in performance due to bugs, prompting developers to focus on stability.

Origin of 'regressing'

The word 'regressing' originates from the Latin word 'regredi', which means 'to go back'. The concept of regression has been studied in psychology, where it refers to a defense mechanism leading to a return to earlier developmental stages. In general usage, 'regressing' can also simply mean moving backward or away from a previous position.

See also: regression, regressive, retrogression.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,636 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.