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

2 of 3

noun

1
2

advance

3 of 3

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 Clarity Act, a bill that would have set broad rules for the crypto market, failed to advance in the Senate in mid-September. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026 Every business will have access to the same rapidly advancing tools. — Vidya Plainfield, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
With no permanent venues to build in advance, much of LA28’s spending will take place in the final stages. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 There has been fierce fighting on Yemen's Red Sea coast as government forces attempt to reverse recent Houthi advances. — Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Adjective
The survey was, however, conducted before the release of June’s advance economic indicators report, which showed ⁠a moderate contraction in the goods trade deficit and retail inventories unchanged. — Reuters, NBC news, 30 July 2026 The survey was, however, conducted before the release of June's advance economic indicators report, which showed a moderate contraction in the goods trade deficit and retail inventories unchanged. — Lucia Mutikani, USA Today, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for advance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for advance
Verb
  • The rooftop bar looks over Hyde Park, lending a welcome (and rather rare) sense of openness in central London, while ABC Kitchen—the London outpost of the New York restaurant famed for its crab toast—brings in a high-flying food crowd.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Broadcom — The semiconductor maker’s stock rose more than 3% after Reuters reported Broadcom has agreed to lend Anthropic up to $42 billion to finance infrastructure purchases .
    — Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Inspired by his legacy, cofounders George and Amal Clooney created the Albies to ensure that the people doing the hardest work to promote justice — often far from the spotlight — are seen, heard and protected.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Around two dozen states have enacted some version of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which has been heavily promoted at the state and federal level by the AKA.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • As the day progresses and the vibe moves from business to pleasure, guests drift out to the outdoor terrace at La Lo La Rooftop with panoramic vistas, twinkling festoon lighting, and a menu of tapas and cocktails.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Yet as the evening progressed to the main marquee sale, buyer caution and risk aversion became clear.
    — Hok-hang Cheung, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Seeking new crypto money, Christie’s and Sotheby’s cut all other legitimizing actors out of the loop with NFTs, elevating what might previously have been categorized as illustration, graphic art, or a social media meme to the status of fine art.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Leave it to Skip Rutherford to elevate the level of public discourse.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Does the emphasis in this summer’s shows on Lee’s painting suggest a new phase in the reception of his work—situating him, perhaps, in greater proximity to Korean dansaekhwa painting than to the School of Things?
    — Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This may be true, but there is also the chance that the result is based on incomplete data, and the finding is much less definitive than the AI may suggest.
    — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • China’s leading firms are still just approaching top US labs in capabilities, partly explaining their lack of transparency.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The researchers plan to use this feature to develop non-line-of-sight communication approaches with their far UVC LEDs.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Mira believes advancement in their field will come through human-AI interaction.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • There is a more optimistic alternative — assuming a new incentive structure that disengages problem-solving and theorem-proving from jobs, advancement, and recognition.
    — Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Toyota has not announced a specific new battery chemistry, range improvement or performance breakthrough from the center.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Court records show that most of the financial exploitation was related to improvements to the Monroe home.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Advance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/advance. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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