advance

1 of 2

verb

ad·​vance əd-ˈvan(t)s 

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

advancer

2 of 2

noun

ad·​vanc·​er

əd-ˈvan(t)-sər

plural -s

1

: one that advances

2

: a second branch of a buck's antler

3

: phase advancer

Synonyms of advance

Verb

• lend

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Associated Press projected Monday afternoon that Councilmember Nithya Raman had advanced to the November runoff in the Los Angeles mayoral race, setting up a contest against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass after Raman erased a roughly 40,000-vote deficit from election night. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 9 June 2026

Nithya Raman is advancing to the November election for Los Angeles mayor, according to projections by NBC News and the Associated Press, setting up a matchup between the progressive city councilmember who joined the race at the last minute and an incumbent mayor. —Paris Barraza, USA Today, 9 June 2026

The group, including Spain, Cape Verde and Uruguay, poses a simpler pathway for Saudi Arabia to advance than in years past. —Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 9 June 2026

MacGregor is an advocate of diversity and has spoken about advancing the role of artificial intelligence in accelerating Europe’s low-carbon energy future. —Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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-

First Known Use

Verb

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing advance

• advance directive
• advance man
• advance on
• in advance
• in advance of

Rhymes for advance

• askance
• enhance
• expanse
• finance
• freelance
• mischance
• perchance
• romance
• chance
• dance
• glance
• hance

Kids Definition

advance

1 of 3 verb

ad·​vance əd-ˈvan(t)s 

advanced; advancing

1

: to move forward

advance a few yards

2

: to help the progress of

sacrifices that advance the cause of freedom

3

: to raise to a higher rank or position : promote

was advanced from clerk to assistant manager

4

: to give and expect to be paid back

advance a loan

5

: suggest sense 1, propose

advance a new plan

advancer noun

advance

2 of 3 noun

1

: a forward movement

2

: progress in development : improvement

recent advances in medicine

3

: a rise in price, value, or amount

4

: a first step or approach

an unfriendly look discourages advances

5

a

: the giving of something in payment (as money) before goods or services are received

I need an advance on my salary

b

: the money or goods given

advance

3 of 3 adjective

1

: made, sent, or furnished ahead of time

an advance payment

2

: going or situated before

an advance guard

an advance scout

Legal Definition

advance

1 of 2 transitive verb

ad·​vance

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

2 of 2 noun

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

also : the money or goods supplied