advance
8 synonyms and 4 antonyms for advance, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To move forward, or to help something make progress.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use advance
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman avauncier, ultimately from Late Latin ab ante ("from before"); a "d" was later added to match Latin ad-.
Full origin of advance →Frequently asked questions
What does “advance” mean?
The word “advance” means to move forward, or to help something make progress. In plain terms, to move forward or make progress, or money given ahead of time.
How do you pronounce “advance”?
“Advance” is pronounced uhd-VAHNS (/ədˈvæns/ in IPA).
How do you use “advance” in a sentence?
Here is “advance” used in a sentence: “The troops advanced under cover of darkness.”
What is another word for “advance”?
Words with a similar meaning to “advance” include improve and assign.
What is the opposite of “advance”?
The opposite of “advance” — its antonyms — are regress, retract, retreat and regression.
What part of speech is “advance”?
Depending on how it is used, “advance” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “advance” come from?
The word “advance” comes from Late Latin. From Anglo-Norman avauncier, ultimately from Late Latin ab ante ("from before"); a "d" was later added to match Latin ad-.
Is “advance” a common word?
“Advance” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'advance' and 'advanced'?
'Advance' is mainly a verb or noun about moving forward or progress — troops advance, or you request an advance on your pay. 'Advanced' is an adjective meaning highly developed or at a high level, like an advanced course or advanced technology. The extra '-d' shifts the meaning entirely.
What is the opposite of 'advance'?
As a verb meaning to move forward, the opposite is 'retreat', 'withdraw', or 'go back'. In the sense of making progress, opposites include 'regress', 'decline', or 'set back'. So an army may retreat rather than advance, and a project can regress rather than advance.
What are the different meanings of 'advance'?
'Advance' carries several senses: to move physically forward, to help something progress ('advance a cause'), to put forward an idea, and to pay money ahead of time (a cash advance). As a noun it can also mean a development or breakthrough, as in medical advances.
What is an example of 'advance' as a verb?
You might say, 'The soldiers advanced across the field,' meaning they moved forward. Or, 'The research will advance our understanding of the disease,' meaning it helps knowledge progress. Both uses share the core idea of forward motion, whether physical or figurative.