advance 1 of 3

Definition of advancenext
1
as in to lend
to give to another for temporary use with the understanding that it or a like thing will be returned advanced her some cash with the understanding that the amount would be deducted from her first paycheck

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
5
6
as in to approach
to move closer to advanced cautiously toward the snarling dog

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

advance

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noun

1
2

advance

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb advance contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of advance are forward, further, and promote. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use forward instead of advance?

While in some cases nearly identical to advance, forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead.

a wage increase would forward productivity

When would further be a good substitute for advance?

The synonyms further and advance are sometimes interchangeable, but further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance.

used the marriage to further his career

When can promote be used instead of advance?

The words promote and advance can be used in similar contexts, but promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.

a campaign to promote better health

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of advance
Verb
The bill has not advanced in Congress. Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026 The company worked with Tsinghua University to build Sino-United Spherical Tokamak (SUNIST) -2, a compact experimental tokamak to advance research in magnetic confinement and plasma physics. Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
Plus, preparing the bread pudding in advance gives the ingredients more time to meld together, which deepens the overall flavor. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026 Many states are working to modernize their grids in advance. Simmone Shah, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
No, mostly there were advance screenings of pictures. Dan Reilly, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025 My position on humanoids in the home will evolve as the technologies powering them advance. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for advance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for advance
Verb
  • All the same, his decision not to assign names to his principal characters, while initially lending the novel an air of universality, lapses into what feels like a formula for its own sake.
    Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Instead of haute couture, most celebrities are decked out in snow boots and parkas, lending the event an air of informality.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • LinkedIn data reveals that employees who combine hard and soft skills get promoted about 8% faster than those who focus only on technical abilities, and skills like communication, teamwork and problem solving are linked to promotions up to 11% faster.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The project was planned to clear the area of outdated and dilapidated buildings, to attract new businesses and promote economic revitalization.
    Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Player Projects require Raiders to go out into the various maps and find loot, which must then be committed in order to progress and earn rewards.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Have things progressed to the point of having regular kombucha or kvass infusions?
    Alyssa Brandt, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Chávez then moved to elevate reserves of the Orinoco Belt.
    Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
  • If a pet must stay outdoors, its shelter should be weatherproofed, dry, insulated, elevated off the ground, and facing away from prevailing winds.
    Sergio Candido, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, is downplaying the bombshell report suggesting Los Angeles Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss has grown tired of his client.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Rising prices for older hardware would suggest supply constraints rather than speculative excess.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The number of states where college games were being adjusted showed the large path of the approaching storm.
    John Raby, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026
  • As a powerful winter storm approaches Georgia, residents are being warned to prepare for frigid temperatures, ice, and possible snowfall.
    Nakell Williams, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • From initial hype to tangible industrial momentum, the 2025 China Apparel Industry AI Technology Application Summit emerged as a key battleground where fashion companies demonstrated their technological advancements.
    Li Jun, Footwear News, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Several new advancement opportunities for students Seventh and eighth grade students now have the opportunity to earn high school credits.
    Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Not every application needs the latest version, particularly when the upgrade delivers no meaningful capability improvement and often drives hardware changes, which drives further cost, further disruption, and further downtime.
    CBS News, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Founders are building orchestration layers, agent runtimes, observability, RAG stacks, semantic layers — each one a real improvement.
    Sanjay Srivastava, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Advance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/advance. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

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