Meaning & use
advance
Last updated
Meanings
verbintransitive
To move forward toward a place or goal.
Grammar: No object; often with on or toward: the army advanced on the city.
Patterns
- advance on something
- advance toward something
The army advanced slowly through the valley.
The line advanced a few steps.
The storm is advancing toward the coast.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To make progress or develop to a higher level.
Grammar: Used with a thing or a person: advance a career, or she advanced quickly.
Patterns
- advance in something
- advance a cause
Medical research has advanced rapidly.
The new role will help her advance her career.
He advanced to the final round.
verbtransitiveformal
To suggest an idea or opinion for others to consider.
Grammar: Formal: advance a theory.
Patterns
- advance a theory
She advanced a bold theory about the fossils.
No one advanced a better plan.
He advanced several arguments for the change.
verbtransitivefinance
To lend or pay money before it is due.
Grammar: Takes an indirect object: advance someone money.
Patterns
- advance someone something
The bank advanced him a loan.
My boss advanced me part of my salary.
The publisher advanced the author a sum.
nouncountable
A forward movement, or progress.
Grammar: Often technological advance.
Patterns
- an advance in something
Advances in technology have changed daily life.
The army's advance halted at the river.
The study marks a major advance.
nouncountablefinance
Money paid before it is earned.
Grammar: Also in advance for beforehand.
Patterns
- an advance on something
She received an advance on her next book.
He asked for an advance on his wages.
The advance covered the rent.
Word forms
| third person singular | advances |
|---|---|
| past tense | advanced |
| past participle | advanced |
| -ing form | advancing |
| plural | advances |
Common combinations
- advance rapidly
- Technology continues to advance rapidly.
- advance a career
- She moved cities to advance her career.
- in advance
- Please book tickets in advance.
- advance notice
- We need advance notice for the visit.
- major advance
- The vaccine was a major advance.
- make advances
- The company has made advances in solar energy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- progress
- Progress stresses improvement over time, while advance can be physical movement forward.
- proceed
- Proceed means to continue or move on, with less sense of getting ahead.
- promote
- Promote means to push something forward or raise someone's rank, while advance also covers natural development.
- loan
- A loan is money lent for a long time, while an advance is money paid early.
Opposites
Word family
- advanced adjective
- far along or at a high level
- advancement noun
- progress or promotion
- advancing adjective
- moving forward
- advancer noun
- someone who advances, rare
Commonly confused: advance or advantage?
advance vs advantage
An advantage is a helpful edge, while advance means forward movement or progress.
Practice
Scientists hope the new treatment will ______ our understanding of the disease.
Choose one answer.
Advance means to move forward or improve, which suits understanding. Retreat, abandon and delay do not express improvement.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “advance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.