advance Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a movement forward
    progress; progression.
    • he listened for the progress of the troops
  2. noun a change for the better; progress in development
    betterment; improvement.
  3. noun a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others
    overture; approach; feeler.
    • she rejected his advances
  4. noun the act of moving forward (as toward a goal)
    forward motion; progression; advancement; procession; onward motion; progress.
  5. noun an amount paid before it is earned
    cash advance.
  6. noun increase in price or value
    rise.
    • the news caused a general advance on the stock market
  7. verb move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
    move on; march on; progress; pass on; go on.
    • Time marches on
  8. verb bring forward for consideration or acceptance
    throw out.
    • advance an argument
  9. verb increase or raise
    supercharge; boost.
    • boost the voltage in an electrical circuit
  10. verb contribute to the progress or growth of
    encourage; promote; boost; further.
    • I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom
  11. verb cause to move forward
    bring forward.
    • Can you move the car seat forward?
  12. verb obtain advantages, such as points, etc.
    make headway; gain ground; get ahead; win; gain; pull ahead.
    • The home team was gaining ground
    • After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference
  13. verb develop in a positive way
    come along; shape up; get on; come on; progress; get along.
    • He progressed well in school
    • My plants are coming along
    • Plans are shaping up
  14. verb develop further
    • We are advancing technology every day
  15. verb give a promotion to or assign to a higher position
    upgrade; kick upstairs; elevate; promote; raise.
    • John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired
    • Women tend not to advance in the major law firms
    • I got promoted after many years of hard work
  16. verb pay in advance
    • Can you advance me some money?
  17. verb move forward
    set ahead.
    • we have to advance clocks and watches when we travel eastward
  18. verb rise in rate or price
    gain.
    • The stock market gained 24 points today
  19. adjective satellite being ahead of time or need
    beforehand.
    • gave advance warning
    • was beforehand with her report
  20. adjective satellite situated ahead or going before
    in advance; advanced.
    • an advance party
    • at that time the most advanced outpost was still east of the Rockies

WordNet

Ad*vance" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. avancen, avauncen, F. avancer, fr. a supposed LL. abantiare; ab + ante (F. avant) before. The spelling with d was a mistake, a- being supposed to be fr. L. ad. See Avaunt.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Advanced present participle & verbal noun Advancing (#)
Definitions
  1. To bring forward; to move towards the van or front; to make to go on.
  2. To raise; to elevate. Archaic
    They . . . advanced their eyelids. Shak.
  3. To raise to a higher rank; to promote.
    Ahasueres . . . advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes. Esther iii. 1.
  4. To accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward; to help on; to aid; to heighten; as, to advance the ripening of fruit; to advance one's interests.
  5. To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show; as, to advance an argument.
    Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own. Pope.
  6. To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten.
  7. To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due, or in aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand; as, a merchant advances money on a contract or on goods consigned to him.
  8. To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate; as, to advance the price of goods.
  9. To extol; to laud. Obs.
    Greatly advancing his gay chivalry. Spenser.
    Syn. -- To raise; elevate; exalt; aggrandize; improve; heighten; accelerate; allege; adduce; assign.
Ad*vance" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To move or go forward; to proceed; as, he advanced to greet me.
  2. To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to advance in knowledge, in stature, in years, in price.
  3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred or promoted.
    Advanced to a level with ancient peers. Prescott.
Ad*vance" noun
Etymology
Cf. F. avance, fr. avancer. See Advance, v.
Definitions
  1. The act of advancing or moving forward or upward; progress.
  2. Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or religion; an advance in rank or office.
  3. An addition to the price; rise in price or value; as, an advance on the prime cost of goods.
  4. The first step towards the attainment of a result; approach made to gain favor, to form an acquaintance, to adjust a difference, etc.; an overture; a tender; an offer; -- usually in the plural.
    [He] made the like advances to the dissenters. Swift.
  5. A furnishing of something before an equivalent is received (as money or goods), towards a capital or stock, or on loan; payment beforehand; the money or goods thus furnished; money or value supplied beforehand.
    I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances. Jay.
    The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been made. Kent.
Ad*vance" adjective
Definitions
  1. Before in place, or beforehand in time; -- used for advanced; as, an advance guard, or that before the main guard or body of an army; advance payment, or that made before it is due; advance proofs, advance sheets, pages of a forthcoming volume, received in advance of the time of publication.

Webster 1913