advance

verb ad·vance \ əd-ˈvan(t)s \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of advance

advanced; advancing

transitive verb

1 : to accelerate the growth or progress of

advance a cause

2 : to bring or move forward

advance a pawn

3 : to raise to a higher rank

was advanced from clerk to assistant manager

4 archaic : to lift up : raise

5 : to bring forward in time; especially : to make earlier

advance the date of the meeting

6 : to bring forward for notice, consideration, or acceptance : propose

advance an idea

7 : to supply or furnish in expectation of repayment

advance a loan

8 : to raise in rate : increase

advance the rent

intransitive verb

1 : to move forward : proceed

an advancing army

2 : to make progress : increase

advance in age

3 : to rise in rank, position, or importance

advance through the ranks

4 : to rise in rate or price

advancing wages

—

advancer

noun

See advance defined for English-language learners

See advance defined for kids

Examples of advance in a Sentence

The car advanced slowly down the street.
The sun slowly advanced across the sky.
She opened the door and advanced cautiously into the room.
advance the hands of a clock
The film is advanced by an electric motor.
The team advanced the ball steadily down the field.
Our understanding of this disease has advanced rapidly in recent years.
The team did not advance beyond the first round of the play-offs.
The company tries to keep up with advancing technology.
As he advanced in age and stature he advanced in knowledge.

Recent Examples of advance from the Web

Turning Point: In the top of the fifth inning, Chattanooga starter Zack Little was pulled after giving up a double to Danny Mendick, who advanced to third on a fly out.

— cheryl wray, AL.com, "Birmingham Barons win opener 5-4 on road over Chattanooga," 6 Apr. 2018
Included in the artists who advanced were Harris, Trevor and Brittany Holmes, Turner, Passero, Barrett, Grace, Jurnee, Kay Kay, Poppe, Sussett, Zahm, Foehner, Hutchinson, Lorenzo, Jacobs, Brenns, Hardy, Johnson and Bultongez.

— kayla kumari upadhyaya, The Hollywood Reporter, "'American Idol': Hollywood Week Brings Another Round of Brutal Cuts," 1 Apr. 2018
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar has received the prestigious Customer of the Year award from WateReuse, a nonprofit trade association that advances laws, policies and funding to increase water conservation.

— carl prine, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Marines at Miramar win major conservation award," 31 Mar. 2018
But perhaps the biggest difference — one that could determine who advances to Monday’s national title game — could be the matchup between Krutwig and Wagner.

— chris solari, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan and Loyola-Chicago's big men preparing for Final Four matchup," 30 Mar. 2018
University students will have to try to out-right-swipe (an action that indicates a match on the app) their competition to advance to the next rounds.

— jessica mckinney, Billboard, "Cardi B Partners With Tinder For 'Swipe Off' Competition," 28 Mar. 2018
The winner of this game probably will be favored in the national championship contest over who advances in the game between No.

— joe juliano, Philly.com, "Villanova-Kansas duel in Final Four could come down to threes," 26 Mar. 2018
Michigan and Loyola-Chicago, who advanced to college basketball’s biggest stage with wins on Saturday, will face off in the first national semifinal at 6:09 p.m. on March 31.

— samuel chamberlain, Fox News, "Kansas, Villanova punch last two tickets to Final Four," 26 Mar. 2018
By a vote of 55 to 44, senators voted against a procedural motion that would have advanced the measure.

— ted barrett, CNN, "Senators block Yemen war powers resolution," 20 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'advance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of advance

Middle English advauncen, alteration (with initial a- taken as assimilated form of Latin ad- ad-) of avauncen, borrowed from Anglo-French avancer, going back to Vulgar Latin *abantiāre, verbal derivative of Latin abante "before, in front," from ab- ab- + ante "before" — more at ante-

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1538

See Words from the same year

advance Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of advance

advance, promote, forward, further mean to help (someone or something) to move ahead. advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end.

- advance the cause of peace

promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.

- a campaign to promote better health

forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead.

- a wage increase would forward productivity

further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance.

- used the marriage to further his career

advance

noun

Definition of advance

1 : a moving forward

halted the enemy's advances

2 a : progress in development

… mistaking material advance for spiritual enrichment.
—H. J. Laski

b : a progressive step : improvement

an advance in medical technique

3 : a rise in price, value, or amount

The workers won wage advances.

4 : a first step or approach made

Her attitude discouraged all advances.

5 : a provision of something (such as money or goods) before a return is received

I need an advance on my salary.

; also : the money or goods supplied

received a $100,000 advance on his new book

— in advance

1 : to, toward, or in a place or position ahead

sent scouts out in advance

2 : before a deadline or an anticipated event

made reservations in advance

— in advance of

: ahead of

made preparations several days in advance of her arrival

See advance defined for English-language learners

Examples of advance in a Sentence

trying to halt the enemy's advance
trying to halt the enemy's advances
a big advance in technology
The new system represents a considerable advance over the old one.
There have been few advances made in the treatment of this disease.
There has been little advance made in the treatment of this disease.
The workers won wage advances.
a yearlong advance in stock prices

Recent Examples of advance from the Web

The national Storm Prediction Center, however, does not forecast severe weather more than about a week in advance.

— ken miller, Fox News, "Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas facing tornado and wildfire threats," 7 Apr. 2018
The 2017 dinner was the lowest-key edition in recent memory with media outlets like Vanity Fair and The New Yorker canceling their parties well in advance.

— jayme deerwester, USA TODAY, "White House Correspondents' Dinner: Donald Trump is out; Sarah Huckabee Sanders is in," 6 Apr. 2018
Email events in this format at least two weeks in advance to kathyehuber@gmail.com.

— kathy huber, Houston Chronicle, "Gardening events," 6 Apr. 2018
Reservations four years in advance will cost space travelers $80,000 apiece.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "Space vacations are going for $9.5 million at the first luxury hotel in the stars | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 6 Apr. 2018
On Thursday, Pruitt skipped off to Kentucky (once again without announcing it in advance), to meet with state air quality regulators.

— umair irfan, Vox, "Scott Pruitt’s ethics scandals aren’t stopping him from gutting the EPA," 6 Apr. 2018
Raffle tickets are $5 each and can be purchased in advance.

— mark rapp, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Arts listings for April 6-12: "Cleveland's Endearing Symnbol: 52 stories of the Terminal Tower" at the Galleries at CSU & More," 5 Apr. 2018
Admission is $35 and must be purchased in advance at norskmuseum.org or by calling 815-712-3170.

— joy davis, Aurora Beacon-News, "Community discussion planned in Aurora," 5 Apr. 2018
Now, a new forecasting system for bird migration could help put an end to millions of those deaths by warning wind farm operators and building managers of incoming migrations 3 days in advance.

— erik stokstad, Science | AAAS, "Migration forecasts could help prevent wind turbines and buildings from killing millions of birds," 5 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of advance

derivative of ¹advance (or borrowed from French avance, going back to Middle French, noun derivative of avancer)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1570

See Words from the same year

advance Synonyms

Synonyms

advancement, breakthrough, enhancement, improvement, refinement;

Antonyms

setback;

Near Antonyms

breakdown, collapse, crash;

hindrance, impediment, stumbling block;

decadence, decay, decline, decrease, degeneration, descent, deterioration, diminishment, downgrade, ebbing, failing, flagging, languishment, lapse, lessening, reduction, sinking, slowing, weakening, worsening;

detriment, disablement, drawback, glitch, impairment, shortcoming;

Related Words

quantum leap;

amelioration, boost, heightening, increase, melioration, strengthening, upgrade, uplift, upswing, uptrend, upturn;

betterment, development, elaboration, evolution, expansion, gestation, growth, maturation, perfection, ripening;

civilization, edification, education, enlightenment;

renaissance, renascence, revival;

innovation, invention;

advance

adjective

Definition of advance

1 : made, sent, or furnished ahead of time

advance sales

2 : going or situated before

an advance party of soldiers

See advance defined for English-language learners

Examples of advance in a Sentence

an advance copy of a new book

Recent Examples of advance from the Web

Many would later point to this — which came months before the Podesta emails became public — and ask whether Stone had advance knowledge of the Podesta email leak.

— andrew prokop, Vox, "The hacked emails at the center of Mueller’s Russia investigation, explained," 2 Apr. 2018
To order advance tickets, go to holytrinityavon.org.

— julie a. short/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Community march for Parkland Saturday: Short Takes on Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville," 19 Mar. 2018
Days later, as part of the announcement ending DACA, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the government would no longer give advance parole to program recipients.

— kate morrissey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Dreamer hoping for permission to say goodbye to dying grandfather," 22 Mar. 2018
The omnibus spending bill slated to be introduced before March 23 represents the best chance to change the provision for some time, and farmers will soon be making advance crop-sale decisions for the coming season.

— jacob bunge, WSJ, "Lawmakers, Farm Groups Outline Fix for Tax Conundrum," 14 Mar. 2018
State Department officials told the Associated Press that Tillerson was not given advance notice of his firing, although White House officials disputed that account.

— james osborne and kevin diaz, San Antonio Express-News, "The long road to Trump’s firing of Rex Tillerson," 13 Mar. 2018
State Department officials told the Associated Press that he was not given advance notice of his firing.

— james osborne, Houston Chronicle, "Former Exxon CEO Tillerson out as secretary of state," 13 Mar. 2018
His confidante, Roger Stone, seemed to have advance knowledge of Russian email theft.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump: Why Didn’t Obama Stop the Hacking That I Abetted?," 20 Feb. 2018
On Saturday, March 3, local four-piece the Evening Attraction drop their second album, The End, Again, whose advance singles recall the Zombies in their lovely baroque touches.

— gossip wolf, Chicago Reader, "Harold Washington Library celebrates the Reverend Clay Evans with a free gospel concert," 27 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of advance

derivative of ²advance

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1701

See Words from the same year

ADVANCE Defined for English Language Learners

advance

verb

Definition of advance for English Language Learners

: to move forward
: to move (someone or something) forward
: to go forward : to make progress : to continue in a process of development, aging, etc.

advance

noun

Definition of advance for English Language Learners

: forward movement
: progress in the development or improvement of something
: a rise in price, value, or amount

advance

adjective

Definition of advance for English Language Learners

: made, sent, or provided at an early time
: going or placed before others

ADVANCE Defined for Kids

advance

verb ad·vance \ əd-ˈvans \

Definition of advance for Students

advanced; advancing

1 : to move forward

Advance your piece five spaces on your next turn.

2 : to help the progress of

Laws were passed that advance freedom.

3 : to raise to a higher rank : promote

She was advanced from teller to assistant bank manager.

4 : to give ahead of time

My boss advanced me 100 dollars from my wages.

5 : propose 1

The candidate advanced a new plan.

advance

noun

Definition of advance for Students

1 : a forward movement

Troops tried to halt the enemy's advance.

2 : progress in development : improvement

advances in medicine

3 : a rise in price, value, or amount

4 : a first step or approach

friendly advances

5 : money given ahead of the usual time

I asked for an advance on my salary.

— in advance

: before an expected event

You knew a week in advance about the test.

Law Dictionary

advance

transitive verb ad·vance

legal Definition of advance

advanced; advancing

: to supply or provide ahead of time: as

a : to give (a gift) by way of or as an advancement

b : to supply (as money) beforehand in expectation of repayment or other future adjustment

advance

noun

legal Definition of advance

: a provision of something (as goods or money) before a return is received; also : the money or goods supplied

Learn More about advance

See words that rhyme with advance Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for advance Spanish Central: Translation of advance Nglish: Translation of advance for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of advance for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up advance? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

advance

Definition of advance

advancer

Examples of advance in a Sentence

Recent Examples of advance from the Web

Origin and Etymology of advance

advance Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of advance

advance

Definition of advance

Examples of advance in a Sentence

Recent Examples of advance from the Web

Origin and Etymology of advance

advance Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

advance

Definition of advance

Examples of advance in a Sentence

Recent Examples of advance from the Web

Origin and Etymology of advance

Phrases Related to ADVANCE

Related Phrases

ADVANCE Defined for English Language Learners

advance

Definition of advance for English Language Learners

advance

Definition of advance for English Language Learners

advance

Definition of advance for English Language Learners

ADVANCE Defined for Kids

advance

Definition of advance for Students

advance

Definition of advance for Students

Law Dictionary

advance

legal Definition of advance

advance

legal Definition of advance

Learn More about advance

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes