Advance dictionary definition

advance

[ad vans′, əd-]

Use advance in a sentence

adjective

Advance means in front.
An example of advance used as an adjective is an advance party which is a group of soldiers who arrive before the rest of the soldiers to check out the safety and the surroundings.

noun

Advance is defined as a movement forward or an improvement.
Finding a new way to treat cancer is an example of an advance in science.

verb

The definition of advance means to move forward or to raise in importance.
An example of advance is to be promoted at a job.

advance

transitive verb

advanced, advancing

to bring forward; move forward: to advance a chessman
to raise in rank, importance, etc.; promote
to help or hasten the success or completion of; further: to advance a project
to put forward; propose
to bring closer to the present; specif.,
1. to cause (a future event) to happen earlier
2. to assign a later date to (a past event)
to raise the rate of; increase: to advance prices
to pay (money) before due
to lend

Origin of advance

Middle English avancen ; from Old French avancer, to forward ; from Vulgar Latin an unverified form abantiare ; from Classical Latin ab-, from + ante, before: spelling, spelled ad- by associated, association with Classical Latin ad, to, forward

intransitive verb

to go forward; move ahead
to make progress; improve; develop
to rise in rank, importance, etc.
to rise in price or cost; increase

noun

a moving forward
an improvement; progress: new advances in science
a rise in value or cost
approaches to get favor, become acquainted, etc.; overtures (to someone)
a payment made before due, as of wages
a loan

adjective

in front: advance guard
beforehand; ahead of time: advance information

Related Forms:

advancer
noun

advance Idioms

in advance

in front
before due; ahead of time

advance

verb

ad·vanced, ad·vanc·ing, ad·vanc·es

verb

, transitive

To cause to move forward: advance a chess piece.
To put forward; propose or suggest: advanced a novel theory during the seminar.
To aid the growth or progress of: advanced the cause of freedom.
To raise in rank; promote.
To cause to occur sooner: advance a deadline by one week.
To raise in amount or rate; increase.
To pay (money or interest) before due.
To supply or lend, especially on credit.
To serve as an advance person for (a trip to be made by a politician or a dignitary): “advanced the China trip during which the first trade agreements &ellipsis; were signed” (Suzanne Perney).
Archaic To lift.

verb

, intransitive

a. To go or move forward or onward.
b. To move against another, as when attacking: advance on the enemy's position.
To make progress; improve.
To rise in rank, position, or value.
To serve as an advance person for a trip to be made by a politician or a dignitary.

noun

The act or process of moving or going forward.
A forward move, as toward an objective; a progressive step: an advance in genetic engineering.
An increase of price or value.
advances Opening approaches made to secure acquaintance, favor, or an agreement; overtures.
a. The furnishing of funds or goods on credit.
b. The funds or goods so furnished; a loan.
a. Payment of money before due: an advance on next month's salary.
b. The money so paid.
Preparation, especially publicity, done prior to the appearance of a public figure or the staging of a public event.

adjective

Made or given ahead of time: an advance payment.
Going before, in front, or forward.

Origin of advance

Middle English avauncen, from Old French avauncer, from Vulgar Latin *abantiāre, from Latin abante, from before : ab-, ab- + ante, before; see ant- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

ad·vanc′er
noun

Usage Note: When used as a noun, advance indicates forward movement (the advance of the army) or progress or improvement (an advance in molecular biology). Advancement is usually used figuratively to indicate promotion or movement beyond an established norm: career advancement. Unlike advance, advancement often implies the existence of an agent or outside force. Thus the advance of science means simply “the progress of science,” whereas the advancement of science implies progress resulting from the action of an agent or force: The purpose of the legislation was the advancement of science.

advance

Verb

(third-person singular simple present advances, present participle advancing, simple past and past participle advanced)

To bring forward; to move towards the front; to make to go on.
To raise; to elevate.
They […] advanced their eyelids. — Shakespeare
To raise to a higher rank; to promote.
To accelerate the growth or progress of; to further; to forward; to help on; to aid; to heighten.
to advance the ripening of fruit
to advance one's interests
To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show.
to advance an argument
To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten.
To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due, or in aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand.
Merchants often advance money on a contract or on goods consigned to them.
To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate.
to advance the price of goods
(intransitive) To move forwards, to approach.
He rose from his chair and advanced to greet me.

Noun

(plural advances)

A forward move; improvement or progression.
an advance in health or knowledge
an advance in rank or office
An amount of money or credit, especially given as a loan, or paid before it is due; an advancement.
An addition to the price; rise in price or value.
an advance on the prime cost of goods
(in the plural) An opening approach or overture, especially of an unwelcome or sexual nature.

Adjective

(comparative more advance, superlative most advance)

Completed before need or a milestone event.
He made an advance payment on the prior shipment to show good faith.
Preceding.
The advance man came a month before the candidate.
Forward.
The scouts found a site for an advance base.

Origin

From Old French avancer (French: avancer), from Late Latin abante, from ab + ante (“before”). The spelling with d was a mistake, a- being supposed to be from Latin ad. Avaunt is an earlier form of the same source-word.