advance

1 forward movement in time or place during her long convalescence, the housebound woman was barely aware of the advance of the seasons Synonyms advancement, furtherance, going, headway, march, onrush, passage, process, procession, progress, progression Related Words current, drift, flow, flux, stream, way; advent, approach, arrival, coming, nearing; bound, jump, leap, step, stride; impetus, momentum Near Antonyms backwash, ebb, reflux; retraction, return, reversal, reverse; about-face, turnabout, turnaround Antonyms recess, recession, regress, regression, retreat, retrogression

2 an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill under her new teacher, the aspiring violinist has made noticeable advances in her technique in just a few weeks Synonyms advancement, breakthrough, enhancement, improvement, refinement 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; discovery, find, windfall; innovation, invention Near Antonyms breakdown, collapse, crash; hindrance, impediment, stumbling block; decadence, decay, declension, decline, decrease, degeneration, descent, deterioration, diminishment, downgrade, ebbing, failing, flagging, languishment, lapse, lessening, reduction, sinking, slowing, weakening, worsening; detriment, disablement, drawback, glitch, impairment, shortcoming Antonyms setback

1 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 lend, loanRelated Words furnish, give, grant; lease, let [chiefly British], rentNear Antonyms receive, takeAntonyms borrow

2 to help the growth or development of great thinkers who did much to advance modern science Synonyms foster, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture, promoteRelated Words advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support, uphold; endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite; abet, aid, assist; advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout; agitate (for), campaign (for), work (for)Near Antonyms ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe; battle, combat, contend (with), counter, fight, oppose; repress, snuff (out), squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress; arrest, check, halt, retard; encumber, fetter, hobble, impede, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackleAntonyms discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

3 to move forward along a course as the technology advances, electronic devices keep getting smaller and smarter Synonyms go, come, come along, do, fare, forge, get along, get on, go along, go off, march, pace, proceed, progressRelated Words accelerate, fast-forward, speed; approach, near; journey, pass, repair, run, travel, wend; actuate, drive, impel, propel, push; take outNear Antonyms arrest, balk, block, check, detain, halt, hinder, hold back, impede, nip, obstruct, slow (down or up), stem; repress, retard, stunt, suppress; delay, interrupt, stall; cramp, hamper, inhibit; cease, let up, pause; regress; waitAntonyms remain, stand, stay, stop

4 to move higher in rank or position within six months was advanced to the position of head waiter, to the dismay of the waiters who had been there much longer Synonyms promote, elevate, raise, upgradeRelated Words forward, further; aggrandize, boost, heighten, improve, lift, uplift; commission, ennoble, knight; acclaim, applaud, celebrate, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate; eulogize, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, hail, honor, laud, praise, saluteNear Antonyms depose, dethrone, dismiss, expel, impeach, oust, overthrow, remove, unmake, unseat; demean, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, mortify, shame, take down; censure, condemn, damn, denounce, reprobateAntonyms abase, degrade, demote, downgrade, lower, reduce

5 to set before the mind for consideration let me explain my reasons for advancing this proposal Synonyms propose, bounce, offer, pose, proffer, propound, suggest, voteRelated Words move; nominate, recommend; present, submit, tender, trot out; file, lay, lodge; arrange, calculate, chart, contrive, cover, frame, map, plan, plot, shape

6 to move closer to advanced cautiously toward the snarling dog Synonyms come, approach, near, nighRelated Words drop in, enter, pop (in)Near Antonyms depart, exit, leaveAntonyms go, recede (from), retreat, withdraw