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
Near the end of the meeting, before voting to advance the proposal, Planning Commissioner Rehana Rehman called for more community involvement. — Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 The Timberwolves went 49-33 and won at least one playoff series in both of Randle’s seasons in Minnesota, including advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2025. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
The first lady credited scientific advances and changing social norms for the launch of the initiative, elements of which echo a Biden administration effort. — Dan Diamond, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026 To that end, Placer County has committed $500,000 to conduct technical studies and advance planning efforts. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
By combining advance preparation with a timely course correction, the voyage transformed a looming weather threat into an unforgettable view of totality. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2026 The two groups ratified their union contracts in July, which offered wage increases, access to union health care and the institution of career development committees aimed at helping early-career workers advance. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for advance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for advance
Verb
  • Lugo was happy to lend his talents, though the requests piled up.
    — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The same wood, as well as textured fabrics and leathers, can be found in other accents, lending the room an organic vibe.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Chater doesn’t disagree, particularly as promoting the album has prompted more conversations about the subject.
    — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Abe Flores, deputy director of Create CA, a nonprofit advocacy group that promotes arts education for California students, said the challenges SCUSD cited were not unique to the district.
    — Chaewon Chung Updated October 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Completing the flight test just weeks after a captive-carry event demonstrated how quickly the program progressed through its testing sequence.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • As work at the track progressed, one urgent mitigation project upriver lagged.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That production is the wrinkle that elevates Seventhirty’s lyrics from modern dating podcast material to pure melodrama.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The guides elevate the safari experience by representing different places and people of Namibia, from the coastal cities of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay to the Himba in the far north-west and the Khwe Bushmen of the north-east.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Sanders, one of the left’s leading critics of the AI industry, went a step beyond profit-sharing by suggesting this summer that its companies surrender half of their stock to the government.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Totally suggests the pensive headspace of an adult returning to his childhood haunts trying to make sense of it all.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The result offers researchers a different way to approach quantum material design.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • With Election Day approaching, California voters are facing a crowded ballot and competing claims about what the state's propositions would do.
    — James Taylor, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Compensation and advancement below the partner level can’t just be about minimizing cost.
    — Tim Brackney, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, Anthropic has landed at the center of ongoing concerns over the breakneck pace of AI advancement.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Yield improvements averaged fourfold and reached as high as 40-fold.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Locked chats, by contrast, remain saved and follow a user’s existing model-improvement setting.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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