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

Outside the budget, bills to set a tougher standard for police to use deadly force and require more officer training are advancing through the Legislature, reflecting a compromise between civil rights advocates and law enforcement groups. — Laurel Rosenhall, The Mercury News, "California just passed a $215 billion budget. Here’s what’s between the lines.," 14 June 2019 Maybe in 2020 The two most logical choices would be New Jersey and New York, both of which have advanced legislation to legalize adult-use marijuana. — Michael Smith, USA TODAY, "After Illinois, these states could legalize recreational marijuana next," 14 June 2019 Then, as the Raptors advanced through the playoffs, the team patterned itself after him. — Matthew De Silva, Quartz at Work, "In praise of quiet charisma," 14 June 2019 To help employees advance along their career path, LeadMD supports employee growth by providing training and mentorship programs. — Leigh Farr, azcentral, "Small Company Rankings," 13 June 2019 All of our leaders are college graduates, and many have advanced degrees. — National Geographic, "About Us," 12 June 2019 Ada’s gunship fleet was in LPO, awaiting detection of the advancing Icar- ion fleet, when the asteroid passed within range. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "A starfighter pilot awakens in an unwelcome future in this excerpt from Velocity Weapon," 11 June 2019 The odds are very low that a crucial piece of legislation will advance by a single vote in the House. — The Editors, National Review, "Dan Lipinski: The Last Pro-Life Liberal Democrat," 11 June 2019 Everyone knows that the US and Sweden will advance. — Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, "US women’s soccer team running up the score on Thailand was a bad look," 15 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The outcome of cases is actually not predictable in advance simply by knowing a justice’s political leanings. — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, "The latest US Supreme Court rulings are blowing up pundits’ predictions," 15 June 2019 The pending lawsuit results from a disagreement between lawmakers and governor about the Legislature’s ability to plan education funding in advance. — James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska Legislature one month from education funding lawsuit against Gov. Dunleavy," 14 June 2019 Send tips at least a month in advance to ChicagoTribTravel@gmail.com. — Phil Marty, chicagotribune.com, "Walk to Canada, watch a PGA tournament in Illinois and more Midwest summer events," 14 June 2019 So how do these brain cells know in advance that a saccade is on the way? — Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian, "Our Eyes Are Always Darting Around, So How Come Our Vision Isn’t Blurry?," 14 June 2019 Register in advance at tmlchurch.com or at the door June 24. — Post-tribune Staff Report, Post-Tribune, "Church news," 14 June 2019 City horticulturists design park garden plantings a year in advance. — Colleen Smith, The Denver Post, "Denver parks’ flowers are three weeks behind after rough spring storms," 14 June 2019 Some firms place wagers on the index changes months in advance. — Asjylyn Loder, WSJ, "Uber and Other IPOs Set for an Index Bounce," 14 June 2019 Please email calendar submissions at least two weeks in advance to eventsbestbets@oregonian.com. — oregonlive.com, "Homes and gardens events around Portland: Workshops, garden tours and more," 14 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

But the carrier charges fees for nearly everything beyond boarding the plane; advance seat-assignments and food and beverages cost extra. — Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY, "February route roundup: Where airlines are adding (or cutting) service," 25 Feb. 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 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

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-