Meaning & use
advancement
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
Movement to a higher or better position in a career or in life.
Grammar: No plural here: career advancement, not career advancements.
Patterns
- advancement to something
- advancement within something
The training course improved her chances of advancement.
He cared more about advancement than about salary.
Opportunities for advancement are limited in a small firm.
nouncountable or uncountable
Progress or improvement in a field, such as science or society.
Grammar: Often used with of: the advancement of medicine.
Patterns
- the advancement of something
- advancement in something
The advancement of medicine has saved millions of lives.
The charity supports the advancement of education for girls.
Rapid advancements in robotics changed the factory.
noununcountableformal
The act of promoting an aim, cause, or interest so that it moves forward.
Grammar: Often follows the verb for: she worked for the advancement of the cause.
Patterns
- the advancement of something
He devoted his life to the advancement of civil rights.
The group exists for the advancement of local business.
Funding speeds the advancement of the research.
Word forms
| plural | advancements |
|---|
Common combinations
- career advancement
- Mentors can help with career advancement.
- opportunities for advancement
- The company offers good opportunities for advancement.
- technological advancement
- Technological advancement changes how we work.
- scientific advancement
- Scientific advancement depends on open research.
- seek advancement
- Many young staff seek advancement quickly.
Synonyms and how they differ
- promotion
- Promotion is a specific step up to a higher job, whereas advancement is the general process of moving forward.
- progress
- Progress is the everyday, wider word and does not imply a rise in status.
- development
- Development suggests gradual growth, not necessarily moving to a better position.
- improvement
- Improvement means becoming better, but advancement also suggests moving forward to a higher level.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: advancement or advance?
advancement vs advance
Advance is the base verb or noun for a single step forward, while advancement names the process or result of progress.
Practice
The firm has a strict policy on ___, so employees know how to move up.
Choose one answer.
A noun is needed after on, and advancement names the process of getting ahead in a career. Advance would suggest a payment or a single move.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “advancement”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.