regress
Group 23Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To return to a former or less developed state GRE
Example in Context
Without continued therapy, patients were at risk of regressing to the debilitating condition that had prompted their initial treatment.
Synonyms
go backretreatdecline
Etymology
To step back to a previous stage or state.
- re- (Latin) — back
- gradus (Latin) — step
Memory Aid
👗Sounds like “re dress”
If you RE-DRESS in old clothes, you’re REGRESSING to your embarrassing past!
Visual Association
👶An adult wearing a baby costume, crawling backward while holding a teddy bear.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “regress” mean on the GRE?
regress (verb) means “To return to a former or less developed state”. Without continued therapy, patients were at risk of regressing to the debilitating condition that had prompted their initial treatment.
How to remember “regress” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “regress” sounds like “re dress”. If you RE-DRESS in old clothes, you’re REGRESSING to your embarrassing past!
What are synonyms for “regress”?
Common synonyms: go back, retreat, decline.