A process is a series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular result. When you follow a process to bake cookies, you mix ingredients in a specific order, shape the dough, and bake at the right temperature. Each step matters, and skipping one can ruin the outcome.

Scientists use careful processes when conducting experiments, following the same steps each time to ensure reliable results. Factories use processes to manufacture products consistently. Your school likely has a process for checking out library books: you find the book, bring it to the desk, scan your card, and check the due date.

The word also describes something happening or developing over time. When your teacher says an essay is “a process,” she means it takes multiple stages: brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing. You can't rush through it and expect good results. Similarly, learning to play piano is a process that requires patient, repeated practice.

In computers, a process is a program that's currently running. Your computer might be running dozens of processes simultaneously: one for your web browser, another for your music, and another for your email.

Understanding that complex tasks involve processes helps you break big challenges into manageable steps. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by a science project, you can tackle it one stage at a time.