work in progress

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work in progress

The artist steps back to look at the work in progress on the easel.

Definition

Noun: - An unfinished project or task: A "work in progress" refers to something that is currently being developed, created, or worked on and is not yet complete. It emphasizes the ongoing, evolving nature of the effort.

Usage

This term is commonly used to describe creative projects, construction, software development, personal goals, or any undertaking that is in an intermediate state. It can refer to both the process and the unfinished product itself. It often carries a neutral or positive connotation, acknowledging that completion is expected in the future.

Examples
  • Noun:
    • The novel is still a work in progress; the author hopes to finish it next year.
    • Please excuse the mess—the garden renovation is a work in progress.
    • Our new software update is a work in progress, but we've released a beta version for testing.
Advanced Usage
  • Conceptual Use: The phrase can be applied metaphorically to people, indicating they are continually developing skills or character.
    • As a painter, I see myself as a perpetual work in progress.
  • Accounting/Inventory Context: In business, "work in progress" (often abbreviated WIP) is a formal accounting term for partially completed goods in a production process.
    • The value of the work in progress is listed as a current asset on the balance sheet.
Variants and Related Words
  • Work-in-progress (adj): Used attributively to describe something that is unfinished.
    • She presented her work-in-progress research at the conference.
  • Ongoing project: A similar phrase focusing on the continuous nature of the work.
  • Unfinished business: A related idiom, but this often implies a task with emotional or unresolved weight, not merely an incomplete project.
Synonyms
  • Unfinished work
  • Project in development
  • Ongoing effort
Related Idioms
  • A labor of love: While this idiom describes work done for personal pleasure rather than reward, a long-term "labor of love" is often seen as a work in progress.
  • Under construction: A very similar phrase, most literally used for buildings but applicable to other projects.
    • The website is under construction, so some features may not work. (This is functionally similar to calling it a work in progress.)
work in progress

The artist steps back to look at the work in progress on the easel.

Noun
  1. a piece of work that is not yet finished