Meaning & use
a procedure
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Meanings
nouncountable
A fixed or official way of doing something, usually with several steps in a set order.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a procedure', 'three procedures', or 'the procedure for something'.
Patterns
- a procedure for doing something
- follow a procedure
- the correct procedure
The school has a clear procedure for dealing with complaints.
Please follow the safety procedure before you enter the laboratory.
They changed the procedure for applying for a visa last year.
nouncountablemedical
A medical operation or treatment, especially one involving cutting into the body.
Grammar: Countable and common in medical contexts: 'a minor procedure', 'undergo a procedure'.
Patterns
- undergo a procedure
- a minor procedure
- perform a procedure
The doctor explained that the procedure would take about thirty minutes.
She had a small procedure on her knee last month.
This procedure is usually done under local anaesthetic.
nouncountablecomputing
A set of instructions that a computer follows to complete a task.
Grammar: Countable and used in computing: 'call a procedure', 'a stored procedure'.
Patterns
- call a procedure
- a stored procedure
- run a procedure
The program calls a procedure to save the file.
This stored procedure returns a list of customers.
Write a procedure that checks the password.
Word forms
| plural | procedures |
|---|
Common combinations
- follow a procedure
- All staff must follow the procedure when handling money.
- a standard procedure
- Checking passports is standard procedure at the border.
- the correct procedure
- Ask your manager about the correct procedure for taking leave.
- a procedure for doing something
- There is a special procedure for reporting accidents.
- undergo a procedure
- He will undergo a procedure to clear the blocked artery.
- go through a procedure
- You have to go through a long procedure to get a license.
Synonyms and how they differ
- process
- A process is a series of actions or changes, often natural or less official; a procedure is usually a fixed or official method with clear steps.
- method
- A method is a way of doing something, often chosen for skill or effectiveness; a procedure is more about following set rules or steps.
- routine
- A routine is a usual or regular way of doing things; a procedure is often written down or required.
Word family
- procedural adjective
- Relating to procedures or official rules.
- proceed verb
- To continue or go ahead, especially after a stop.
- proceedings noun
- Official events or actions, especially in a court or meeting.
Commonly confused: a procedure or proceeding? a procedure or process?
a procedure vs proceeding
A 'proceeding' is an action or event, often legal; a 'procedure' is the way something is done. 'Legal proceedings' means court actions, while 'legal procedure' means the rules for doing them.
a procedure vs process
These are close, but 'process' is often a longer series of changes, while 'procedure' is a set method. You can say 'a slow process' but usually not 'a slow procedure'.
Practice
The hospital has a strict ___ for admitting new patients.
Choose one answer.
'Procedure' fits because it means a fixed official way of doing something. 'Proceeding' means an action or legal case, 'procession' means a line of people moving, and 'procedural' is an adjective, so none of them fits the noun slot here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a procedure”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.