advance
uhd-VAHNS
Advance (verb) means to move forward, or to help something make progress. Example: “The troops advanced under cover of darkness.”
verb
1
To move forward, or to help something make progress.
"The troops advanced under cover of darkness."
"New research has advanced our understanding of the disease."
"The glacier advances a few centimetres every year as the ice slowly slides downhill."
2
To give money before it is normally due.
"The publisher advanced her $10,000 before the book was finished."
"Could you advance me some of my wages until Friday?"
"The bank agreed to advance the farmer enough money to buy seed."
noun
1
Forward movement or progress, or money paid before it is due.
"The advance of technology has changed how we work."
"He received an advance on his salary to cover the move."
"There has been a great advance in how we treat common infections."
adj
1
Happening or done ahead of time.
"Advance tickets are cheaper than tickets bought at the door."
"Please give us advance warning if you plan to visit."
"She sent an advance copy of the report to her manager."
How to use advance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo move forward or make progress, or money given ahead of time.
Common pairings
advance notice
cash advance
advance in years
advance payment
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Word forms
- Plural
- advances
- Third person singular
- advances
- Past tense
- advanced
- Comparative
- more advance
- Superlative
- most advance
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The troops _____ under cover of darkness.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman avauncier, ultimately from Late Latin ab ante ("from before"); a "d" was later added to match Latin ad-.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for advance
See all rhymes for 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.
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