advance

verb

ad·vance | \ əd-ˈvan(t)s

advanced; advancing

Definition of advance

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

advance

noun

Definition of advance (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a moving forward halted the enemy's advances

2a : 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

advance

adjective

Definition of advance (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : made, sent, or furnished ahead of time advance sales

2 : going or situated before an advance party of soldiers

Other Words from advance Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about advance

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Choose the Right Synonym for advance

Verb

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

Examples of advance in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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

Adjective

an advance copy of a new book

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Of course, for this franchise, advancing at all would be a significant step. — Noah Trister, The Seattle Times, "Top-seeded Bucks start postseason journey against Detroit," 13 Apr. 2019 Robles said, explaining that heat advances the life cycles of mosquitoes. — Hannah Holzer, sacbee, "Vigilance urged as Sacramento region leads state in West Nile virus activity," 12 July 2018 The reason is deliberate and persistent Democratic obstruction and abuse of Senate rules, so three cheers for Republicans for advancing a modest change in those rules to let President Trump form a government before his first term ends. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "A Rule to Speed Up Confirmations," 2 Apr. 2019 The House Democratic proposal also funds the bills included in Inslee’s clean-energy package, which has been advancing through the Legislature this year. — Joseph O’sullivan, The Seattle Times, "House Democrats want capital-gains tax to help pay for $52.6 billion Washington budget plan," 26 Mar. 2019 With eight states holding primaries today, the most important contests are in California, where the top two vote-getters—regardless of party—will advance to the general election. — Allure, "The 15 Best Face Washes for Oily Skin," 19 Mar. 2019 Founded in 1960, Americans for the Arts is the country’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. — Michaela Bechler, Vogue, "The 2018 National Arts Awards Celebrated Extraordinary Achievement, Philanthropy, and Leadership," 23 Oct. 2018 Wide receivers Davion Davis and Nathan Stewart headline six first-team preseason Southland Conference offensive selections for Sam Houston State, which advanced to last year’s FCS football semifinals for the third time in four years. — Richard Dean, Houston Chronicle, "Sam Houston State places 9 on Southland Conference preseason teams," 12 July 2018 The setting is different, the characters are different, and the timeline has advanced another 15 years. — Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "15 years later, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is finally happening," 21 Mar. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Sanders campaign said in a memo prepared in advance of the trip that the pathway to victory runs through the Midwest. — Scott Bauer, The Seattle Times, "Sanders promises to win back Midwest states Trump captured," 13 Apr. 2019 Among the documents released Friday are interviews with former Fed leaders Paul Volcker, Alan Greenspan and Janet Yellen as part of an oral history project in advance of the central bank’s centennial in 2013. — David Harrison, WSJ, "Interview Transcripts Tell Story of Fed Over Past 50 Years," 12 Apr. 2019 Tickets must be purchased in advance and no tickets will be sold at the door. — Courant Community, "Community News For The East Hartford Edition," 10 July 2018 Admission is $20 in advance and $22 at the door, if spaces remain. — Christina Hyder, Howard County Times, "Maple festival offers a bit of everything [North Laurel/Savage]," 6 July 2018 Prepare this up to four hours in advance, but don't stir in the club soda and mint until just before serving. — Kate Merker, Country Living, "Blackberry Jam Cocktails," 18 Mar. 2019 Some delivery firms working with Walmart are raising pay, while others are grouping orders in advance to give drivers more reliable work. — Jennifer Smith, WSJ, "Today’s Logistics Report: Toyota’s Tariff Shift; Grocery’s Delivery Toll; Squashing Mexican Tomatoes," 15 Mar. 2019 The season starts May 13, per ABC, and starts filming this coming weekend, according to Reality Steve, who was absolutely right about Hannah being the Bachelorette weeks in advance. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "All Hannah B's 'Bachelorette' Contestants Have Been Announced," 13 Mar. 2019 If world leaders insist on maintaining historical rates of economic growth, and there are no step-change advances in technology, hitting that target requires a rate of reduction in carbon intensity for which there is simply no precedent. — David Roberts, Vox, "The case for “conditional optimism” on climate change," 29 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The measure would close a loophole that drug traffickers exploit: While private shippers like FedEx and UPS are required to obtain advance electronic information on most shipments, the Postal Service is not. — Matthew Garcia, Washington Post, "What A U.S.-China Trade War Could Mean For The Opioid Epidemic," 9 July 2018 To avoid a catastrophe like Gold King, EPA officials now require advance approval for work on many mining sites. — Matthew Brown, The Seattle Times, "50M gallons of polluted water pours daily from US mine sites," 20 Feb. 2019 Particularly notable were his drives to rein in Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, advance civil rights and set up a system for postwar geopolitical governance. — Amity Shlaes, WSJ, "‘The Improbable Wendell Willkie’ Review: The Great Disruptor," 13 Sep. 2018 The measure would close a loophole that drug traffickers exploit: While private shippers like FedEx and UPS are required to obtain advance electronic information on most shipments, the Postal Service is not. — Matthew Garcia, Washington Post, "What A U.S.-China Trade War Could Mean For The Opioid Epidemic," 9 July 2018 The measure would close a loophole that drug traffickers exploit: While private shippers like FedEx and UPS are required to obtain advance electronic information on most shipments, the Postal Service is not. — Matthew Garcia, Washington Post, "What A U.S.-China Trade War Could Mean For The Opioid Epidemic," 9 July 2018 Special counsel Robert Mueller is now investigating the whether people close to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign had advance knowledge of WikiLeaks’ plans. — Michael Balsamo, The Seattle Times, "House GOP campaign arm targeted by ‘unknown entity’ in 2018," 4 Dec. 2018 Then, when questions were raised about Stone’s claims to have advance knowledge of Assange’s plans, Stone put out a story that all his contact with WikiLeaks in 2016 was actually through an intermediary: Credico. — Andrew Prokop, Vox, "Robert Mueller’s investigators just keep questioning Roger Stone’s associates," 11 Aug. 2018 The measure would close a loophole that drug traffickers exploit: While private shippers like FedEx and UPS are required to obtain advance electronic information on most shipments, the Postal Service is not. — Matthew Garcia, Washington Post, "What A U.S.-China Trade War Could Mean For The Opioid Epidemic," 9 July 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.

History and Etymology for advance

Verb

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-