procession
procession Lexical Profile
procession Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A number of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly, formal, or ceremonial manner, especially as part of a festival, funeral, or public celebration.
"Thousands of spectators lined the streets to watch the royal wedding procession pass by the cathedral."
A continuous, steady succession or series of people, events, or things following one after another.
"The museum director welcomed a steady procession of visiting scholars and art historians throughout the afternoon."
British A race or competition in which the competitors are unable to overtake one another, resulting in a predictable finish.
"Because the narrow street circuit offered almost no overtaking opportunities, Sunday's race turned into a dull procession."
• verb
To walk or move along in a formal, ceremonial procession.
"The graduating students processioned slowly down the central aisle of the auditorium in their academic robes."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'procession' (an orderly line of people or vehicles moving forward) with the near-homophone 'precession' (a slow, periodic wobbling motion of a rotating body's axis in physics and astronomy).
• Rhymes for procession
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Old French from Late Latin 'processio' ('a marching forward, religious procession'), from the verb 'procedere' ('to go forward, advance'), composed of 'pro-' ('forward') and 'cedere' ('to go').