advance

ad-VANS/ədˈvæns/UKad-VAHNS/ədˈvɑːns/

Verbadvances, advancing, advanced

Noun pluraladvances

19 meanings of advance

Practice

1
verbintransitive
To do well and move up in your work, your studies, or a competition.
Like climbing higher up a ladder, one step at a time.
She worked hard to advance in her career.
A student who studies regularly advances quickly.
UsageSay advance in your job, or advance to the next level.
Similarprogress, rise, succeed, prosper
Oppositestagnate
2
earlyadjective
Done or given early, before something happens or before it is needed.
Like being told about a surprise before it happens.
We got advance warning that the road would close.
Please give us advance notice if you cannot come.
UsagePut it before a noun (advance notice); otherwise say in advance. Advanced means at a high level.
3
verbtransitive
To help something grow or move forward.
Like pushing a friend's swing to help it go higher.
Good teachers advance their students' learning every day.
The new law helped advance equal rights.
Similarfurther, promote, foster, boost, aid
Oppositehinder, impede, hamper, obstruct
4
breakthroughnouncountable
A step forward, or a change that makes something better.
Like taking a step forward instead of standing still.
Each new advance in medicine helps people live longer.
Scientists celebrated the latest advances in clean energy.
UsageSay an advance in something: advances in medicine.
Similardevelopment, improvement, breakthrough, step, advancement
Oppositesetback, retreat, regression
5
verbintransitive
To move forward, or to come closer.
Like a wave rolling closer to the beach.
The soldiers began to advance across the open field.
As night fell, the storm continued to advance toward the coast.
UsageSay advance toward a place; advance on a place often means moving toward it to attack.
Similarproceed, approach, move
Oppositeretreat, withdraw, recede
6
verbtransitive
To suggest an idea or reason for others to think about.
Like raising your hand to share your idea with the class.
The scientist advanced a new idea about how birds find their way home.
Lawyers often advance several arguments at once.
UsageYou advance an idea: advance a theory or an argument.
Similarpropose, suggest, present, offer, posit
Oppositewithdraw, retract
Note
7
nouncountable
Money or credit given as a loan, or money paid before it is due.
Like getting some of your pay early, before the usual day.
She asked her boss for an advance on next month's pay.
The company gave him a small advance to cover travel costs.
UsageAsk for an advance on your pay.
Similarloan, prepayment
8
verbintransitive
To move forward in time or get closer to being finished.
Like a clock's hands moving slowly toward noon.
As the years advance, our bodies slowly change.
The afternoon advanced slowly toward evening.
Similarprogress, proceed, develop, continue
Oppositestall, regress
9
romantic approachnouncountableplural
A first move to get close to someone, often unwanted romantic attention.
Like someone trying to start a friendship in a way the other person does not want.
He made an awkward advance, and she quickly stepped away.
His unwanted advances made her uncomfortable.
UsageSay someone makes advances to a person, who can reject them.
Similarapproach, overture, pass, proposition
Note
10
push something forwardverbtransitive
To push or move something forward, often with a lot of force.
Like pushing a heavy cart forward, one strong shove at a time.
Workers advance the heavy boxes along the belt one at a time.
The players advanced the ball slowly against a strong defense.
Similarpush, drive, propel
Oppositewithdraw
Note
11
in frontadjective
Placed or sent ahead at the front.
Like the first car in a long line leading the way.
The advance team arrived a day early to prepare.
An advance team checked the road before the bus arrived.
Similarforward, lead, leading
Oppositerear
Note

Less common meanings

12
verbtransitive
To lend money, or to pay it before it is due or before the work is done.
Like a friend lending you money now that you pay back later.
The bank agreed to advance the funds for the new house.
Her employer advanced her a week's wages.
UsageSay advance someone money, or advance money to someone.
Similarlend, loan
Note
13
raise in rankverbtransitive
To give someone a higher rank or a more important position.
Like moving up a level in a game.
The company decided to advance her to manager.
After two strong years, she was advanced to team leader.
UsageSay someone is advanced to a higher job; promote is more common.
Similarpromote, elevate, raise
Oppositedemote, downgrade
Note
14
make earlierverbtransitive
To move an event to an earlier time so it happens sooner.
Like moving a party from Saturday to Friday so it comes sooner.
The school advanced the exam to Monday because of the holiday.
They decided to advance the meeting by two hours.
UsageIt means earlier: advance the exam to Monday. You can also say move up.
Oppositepostpone, delay, defer
Note
15
increase (prices)verbintransitive
To go up or become higher, used about prices, values, or rates.
Food prices often advance after a bad harvest.
The price of gold advanced again this week.
Similarrise, climb, gain, increase
Oppositefall, decline, drop
Note
16
price risenouncountable
A rise in the price or value of something.
Like a price tag changing to show a bigger number.
The sudden advance in gas prices hurt commuters.
Farmers were happy about the advance in wheat prices this spring.
Similarrise, increase, gain
Oppositefall, decline, drop, decrease
Note
17
verbtransitive
To make a price, rate, or amount higher.
Like turning a dial up to a bigger number.
The store will advance its prices by five percent in March.
The landlord plans to advance the rent again next year.
18
bid higherverbintransitive
To offer more money than the last bid at an auction.
Like raising your hand to say you will pay more.
The auctioneer asked if anyone would advance on two hundred dollars.
She refused to advance once the bidding got too high.
Similarbid
19
lift upverbarchaictransitive
To lift something up or raise it higher.
The fringed Curtaines of thine eyes aduance.
1610, William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”Here, aduance means lift up or raise, as in raising the eyelids.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of advance apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English avauncen, taken from Anglo-Norman avauncier. It goes back to Latin words meaning "before." The letter "d" was added later.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Advance derives from Middle English avauncen. en.wiktionary.org
Middle English avauncen was borrowed from Anglo-Norman avauncier. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from Latin words meaning “before.” en.wiktionary.org
The letter d was added later. en.wiktionary.org