Meanings
present singular third person advances · participle present advancing · participle past advanced · past advanced · alternative obsolete advaunce
- To promote or advantage.
- To help the progress of (something); to further.First known use 12th c.
Some see it as in effect the end of the Syrian uprising that began with peaceful protests against Assad’s police state in 2011, with opposition fighters working to advance Turkey’s interests at the expense of the revolution’s goals.
2018 January 26, Kareem Shaheen, The Guardian - To raise (someone) in rank or office; to prefer, to promote.First known use 14th c.
This, however, was in time evaded by the monarchs, who advanced certain of their own retainers to a level with the ancient peers of the land[…]
1838, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Boston, Mass.: American Stationers’ Company; John B. Russell, →OCLC1 more example
After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Esther 3:1Synonyms: elevate, exalt, raise, aggrandize, dignify, elevate, ennoble, exalt
- To move forward in space or time.
- To move or push (something) forwards, especially forcefully.First known use 14th c.
Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, / That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance / Thy miscreated front athwart my way / To yonder gates?
1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC - To make (something) happen at an earlier time or date; to bring forward, to hasten.First known use form 15th c.
[S]in and sorrow it were, considering the hardships of this noble and gallant knight, no whit mentioning or weighing those we ourselves have endured, if we were now either to advance or retard the hour of refection beyond the time when the viands are fit to be set before us.
1820 March, [Walter Scott], chapter III, in The Monastery. A Romance. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Co., and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, page 95Synonyms: accelerate
- intransitiveTo move forwards; to approach.First known use 16th c.
I advanced towards him step by step, stopping sometimes for fear of waking him.
1829, Marchioness of Lemington, Rosina, or the Virtuous Country Maid, Ninth ed.1 more example
This army recaptured Wu-chʻang, on the right bank of the Yangtze, in 1854, reached Chen-chiang four years later, advanced to Chiu-chiang and threatened Nanking.
2003, C.J. Shane, editor, China (The History of Nations), Greenhaven Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 67 - To provide (money or other value) before it is due, or in expectation of some work; to lend.First known use 16th c.
“I had intended to ask you to advance me a hundred pounds,” said Phineas.
1869, Anthony Trollope, Phineas Finn1 more example
On the urgent representations of several parties of the first importance in the City of London, the bank advanced 120,000l. to the Governor and Company of the Copper Miners […].
1871, James William Gilbart, The Principles and Practice of Banking - To put forward (an idea, argument etc.); to propose.First known use 16th c.
Some ne'er advance a Judgement of their own, / But catch the spreading notion of the Town […].
1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC1 more example
Ghosts, it is advanced, either do not exist at all, or else, like the stars at noonday, they are there all the time and it is we who cannot see them. The stories in the following pages were written on the second of these assumptions.
1935, Oliver Onions, “Credo”, in The Collected Ghost Stories - intransitiveTo make progress; to do well, to succeed.First known use 16th c.
Earlier the caller said men were more likely to be in senior positions. Clegg says that's partly because the current maternity leave arrangements make it difficult for women to advance in the workplace.
2014 April 24, Andrew Sparrow, The Guardian
- To raise, be raised.
- archaictransitiveTo raise; to lift or elevate.First known use 14th c.
The fringed Curtaines of thine eyes aduance.
1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]Synonyms: heighten
- To increase (a number or amount).First known use 16th c.
plural advances · alternative obsolete advaunce
- An amount of money or credit, especially given as a loan, or paid before it is due; an advancement.
I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances.
1780, John Jay, letter dated November 211 more example
Could he ask the cashier privately for an advance? No, the cashier was no good, no damn good: he wouldn't give an advance.
1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “Counterparts”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 109 - in pluraloftenAn opening approach or overture, now especially of an unwelcome or sexual nature.
[A]nd Rosamund though quite a genteelly brought up young lady had responded to his advances by slapping his face.
1945, Tom Ronan, Strangers on the Ophir, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 595 more examples
For, if it were of any use to recall matters of fact, what is more notorious, than that prince's applying himself first to the church of England? and upon their refusal to fall in with his measures, making the like advances to the dissenters of all kinds, who readily and almost universally complied with him
1708, Jonathan Swift, The Sentiments of a Church of England Man with Respect to Religion and GovernmentAnd so saying he scampered off to the hill, to the amusement of honest Plat; and it is likely lost no time in making his advances to the young widow.
1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 198As the sun fell, so did our spirits. I had tried to make advances to the girl again; but she would have none of me, and so I was not only thirsty but otherwise sad and downhearted.
1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC; republished as chapter IV, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927, →OCLCI felt vaguely he was a sneak, and remained quite unmollified by advances on his side, which, in a boy's barbarous fashion, unless it suited me to be magnanimous, I haughtily ignored.
1923, Walter de la Mare, Seaton's AuntIn public he put on a performance that was at once outraged and outrageous, but usually he did not carry grudges into his private life. Exuding the backslapping air of a socializer who loved to gamble and drink, he could not understand why people whose careers he had ruined and publicly ridiculed would be hostile to his friendly advances.
1983 August 13, John Kyper, “Flamboyant Inquisitor”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 5, page 14
comparative more advance · superlative most advance · alternative obsolete advaunce
- Completed before necessary or a milestone event.
He made an advance payment on the prior shipment to show good faith.
1 more example
In general, if you are applying for adjustment of status (a Green Card) and leave the United States without the appropriate travel documentation (for example, an advance parole document), you may not be allowed to reenter the United States when you return.
2024 January 15, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), “Green Card”, in USCIS, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, retrieved 24 Jan 2025, Travel Documents - Preceding.
The advance man came a month before the candidate.
- Forward.
The scouts found a site for an advance base.
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo raise (someone) in rank or office; to prefer, to promote.
verbTo make (something) happen at an earlier time or date; to bring forward, to hasten.
verbTo raise; to lift or elevate.
antonym(s) of “forward move”
More synonyms by meaning
adjectivebeing ahead of time or need
adjectivesituated ahead or going before
nouna change for the better; progress in development
nouna tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others
nounthe act of moving forward (as toward a goal)
verbmove forward, also in the metaphorical sense
verbobtain advantages, such as points, etc.
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂ep
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂epó
- Proto-Italic*ap
- Latinab
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂ent-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂énts
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂énti
- Proto-Italic*anti
- Latinante
- Latinab ante
- Vulgar Latin*abanteāre
- Old Frenchavancier
- Middle Englishavauncen
- Englishadvance
From Middle English avauncen, avancen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman avauncier, from Vulgar Latin *abanteāre, from Late Latin ab ante, from Latin ab + ante (“before”). ⟨d⟩ added in analogy to Latin ad- (cf. Middle French advancer). Compare avaunt.
More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Vulgar Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἐπάγω
- ἐπάγω (epágō)to move or push forward
Arabic يقرب
- يقربto move forwards, to approach
Bulgarian повишавам, напредвам
- повишавам (povišavam)to raise to a higher rank; to promote
- напредвам (napredvam)to move or push forward
- предплащам (predplaštam)to furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- авансирам (avansiram)to furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- аванс (avans)to furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- предлагам (predlagam)to bring to view or notice; to offer or propose
- развивам (razvivam)to accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- напредък (napredăk)forward move
- аванс (avans)amount of money
- заем (zaem)amount of money
- предплата (predplata)amount of money
- предплащане (predplaštane)amount of money
Catalan avançar, anticipar
- avançarto move or push forward
- anticiparto move or push forward
- avançarto move forwards, to approach
- progressarto accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- progrésforward move
- bestretaamount of money
Chinese Cantonese 提前
- 提前 (tai⁴ cin⁴)to make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten
Chinese Mandarin 推進 /推进, 預付款 /预付款
- 推進 /推进 (tuījìn)to move forwards, to approach
- 預付款 /预付款 (yùfùkuǎn)amount of money
- 提前的 (tíqiánde)completed before necessary or a milestone event
- 預先的 /预先的 (yùxiānde)completed before necessary or a milestone event
Czech postup, záloha
- postupforward move
- zálohaamount of money
Danish fortfremme, fremme
- fortfremmeto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- fremmeto move or push forward
- hasteto make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten
- avancereto move forwards, to approach
- forskydeto furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- avancereto raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate
- fremmeto accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- fremrykningforward move
- forskudamount of money
- forskudsbetalingamount of money
- prisforhøjelserise in price
- åbningopening approach
- nærmendeopening approach
Dutch vervroegen, optrekken
- vervroegento make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten
- optrekkento move forwards, to approach
- benaderento move forwards, to approach
- voorschietento furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- vooruitgangforward move
- voorschotamount of money
- vooruitbetalingamount of money
- avanceopening approach
Esperanto plialtigi, antaŭenigi
- plialtigito raise to a higher rank; to promote
- antaŭenigito move or push forward
- antaŭenpuŝito move or push forward
- antaŭenmovito move or push forward
- akcelito make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten
- antaŭeniĝito move forwards, to approach
- antaŭenirito move forwards, to approach
- antaŭenigito accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- antaŭenpuŝito accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- antaŭenmovito accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- akcelito accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- amindumoopening approach
Estonian edendama, täiustama
- edendamato raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate
- täiustamato raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate
- eel-forward move
- ettemaksamount of money
- avanssamount of money
Finnish ylentää, antaa ylennys
- ylentääto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- antaa ylennysto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- siirtää eteenpäinto move or push forward
- aikaistaato make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten
- edetäto move forwards, to approach
- lähestyäto move forwards, to approach
- antaa ennakkoato furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- maksaa ennakkoato furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- esittääto bring to view or notice; to offer or propose
- korottaato raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate
- edistääto accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- kiihdyttääto accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- edistysaskelforward move
- eteneminenforward move
- lainaamount of money
- ennakkoamount of money
- ennakkomaksuamount of money
- hinnankorotusrise in price
- lähestyminenopening approach
- iskuyritysopening approach
French élever, avancer
- éleverto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- avancerto move or push forward
- anticiperto move or push forward
- avancerto move forwards, to approach
- avancéeforward move
- progressionforward move
- progrèsforward move
- avanceamount of money
- souscriptionamount of money
- avancesopening approach
German erhöhen, erheben
- erhöhento raise to a higher rank; to promote
- erhebento raise to a higher rank; to promote
- befördernto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- vorantreibento move or push forward
- vorrückento move forwards, to approach
- Fortschrittforward move
- Vorschussamount of money
- Anzahlungamount of money
Hebrew הִתְקַדְּמוּת
- הִתְקַדְּמוּת (hitqadmut)forward move
Hindi क़रीब आना, पास आना
- क़रीब आना (qarīb ānā)to move forwards, to approach
- पास आना (pās ānā)to move forwards, to approach
- बयाना देना (bayānā denā)to furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
Hungarian előléptet, előrevisz
- előléptetto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- előreviszto move or push forward
- előretolto move or push forward
- előrehozto make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten
- előlépto move forwards, to approach
- előrelépto move forwards, to approach
- odalépto move forwards, to approach
- megelőlegezto furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- előleget adto furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- előterjesztto bring to view or notice; to offer or propose
- előadto bring to view or notice; to offer or propose
- kifejtto bring to view or notice; to offer or propose
- előrelépésforward move
- haladásforward move
- előrehaladásforward move
- fejlődésforward move
- előmenetelforward move
- előrenyomulásforward move
- előlegamount of money
- áremelkedésrise in price
- (szexuális) közeledésopening approach
- kikezdésopening approach
- előzetescompleted before necessary or a milestone event
- megelőlegezettcompleted before necessary or a milestone event
- előreküldöttpreceding
Irish ionsaigh, ionsaí
- ionsaighto move forwards, to approach
- ionsaíforward move
- airleacanamount of money
Italian avanzare, avanzare
- avanzareto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- avanzareto move or push forward
- anticipareto move or push forward
- anticipareto make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten
- avanzareto move forwards, to approach
- avvicinarsito move forwards, to approach
- approcciarsito move forwards, to approach
- avanzareto bring to view or notice; to offer or propose
- migliorareto raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate
- progredireto accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- avanzataforward move
- progressoforward move
- avanzoamount of money
Japanese 前進する, 進展する
- 前進する (zenshin suru)to raise to a higher rank; to promote
- 進展する (shinten suru)to raise to a higher rank; to promote
- 前進する (zenshin suru)to move or push forward
- 進む (susumu)to move forwards, to approach
- 進展する (shinten suru)to accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- 前進 (zenshin)forward move
- 進歩 (shimpo)forward move
Latin prodeo, probito
- prodeoto move or push forward
- probitoto move or push forward
- prōcēdōto move forwards, to approach
Māori whakapiki, koke
- whakapikito raise to a higher rank; to promote
- koketo move or push forward
- paneketo move or push forward
- whakapikito move or push forward
- kauneketo move forwards, to approach
- koketo move forwards, to approach
- kateteto move forwards, to approach
- whakapikito raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate
- whakawhanaketo accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- kokengaforward move
Norwegian Bokmål fremrykning, forskudd
- fremrykningforward move
- forskuddamount of money
Polish awansować, zaawansować
- awansowaćto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- zaawansowaćto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- postąpićto move or push forward
- zaawansowaćto furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- postąpićto accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- zaliczkaamount of money
- awansamount of money
- awanseopening approach
Portuguese avançar, avançar
- avançarto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- avançarto move or push forward
- avançarto move forwards, to approach
- adiantarto furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- progredirto accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- avançoforward move
- progressoforward move
- adiantamentoamount of money
Romanian avansa, avansa
- avansato move or push forward
- avansato move forwards, to approach
Russian повыша́ть, повы́сить
- повыша́ть (povyšátʹ)to raise to a higher rank; to promote
- повы́сить (povýsitʹ)to raise to a higher rank; to promote
- продвига́ть (prodvigátʹ)to move or push forward
- продви́нуть (prodvínutʹ)to move or push forward
- продвига́ться (prodvigátʹsja)to move forwards, to approach
- продви́нуться (prodvínutʹsja)to move forwards, to approach
- аванси́ровать (avansírovatʹ)to furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- повыша́ть (povyšátʹ)to raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate
- повы́сить (povýsitʹ)to raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate
- развива́ть (razvivátʹ)to accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- разви́ть (razvítʹ)to accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- продвиже́ние (prodvižénije)forward move
- ава́нс (aváns)amount of money
- ссу́да (ssúda)amount of money
- заём (zajóm)amount of money
Spanish avanzar, avance
- avanzarto move or push forward
- avanceforward move
- progresoforward move
- adelantoamount of money
- avanceamount of money
- insinuaciónopening approach
- coqueteoopening approach
- flirteoopening approach
Swedish avancera, förskottera
- avancerato move forwards, to approach
- förskotterato furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- avancerato raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate
- förskottamount of money
- öppningopening approach
- närmandeopening approach
Tagalog sumulong, sumulong
- sumulongto move or push forward
- sumulongto move forwards, to approach
- sumulongto accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
Turkish terfi etmek, ilerletmek
- terfi etmekto raise to a higher rank; to promote
- ilerletmekto move or push forward
- ilerlemekto move forwards, to approach
- ilerlemekto accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- öndelikamount of money
Ukrainian просува́ти, просу́нути
- просува́ти (prosuváty)to move or push forward
- просу́нути (prosúnuty)to move or push forward
- просува́тися (prosuvátysja)to move forwards, to approach
- просу́нутися (prosúnutysja)to move forwards, to approach
- авансува́ти (avansuváty)to furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due
- розвива́ти (rozvyváty)to accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- прогресува́ти (prohresuváty)to accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward
- просува́ння упере́д (prosuvánnja uperéd)forward move
- наступа́ти (nastupáty)forward move
- ава́нс (aváns)amount of money
- по́зика (pózyka)amount of money
- по́зичка (pózyčka)amount of money
Welsh blaenswm, benthyciad
- blaenswmamount of money
- benthyciadamount of money
Yiddish אַװאַנסירן, אַוואַנס
- אַװאַנסירן (avansirn)to move forwards, to approach
- אַוואַנס (avans)amount of money
Zulu imvula
- imvulaamount of money
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with advance
Cite this entry
advance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/advance
“advance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/advance. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “advance,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/advance.
Source: advance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.