Advance is a flexibleable to change easily for different uses or situations English word. It can mean moving forward, making progress, getting promotedgiven a higher job position or rank, paying money early, or something that comes before the main event. The exact meaning dependsis determined by something else on how it is used.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /ædˈvæns/

Easy pronunciation: ad-VANS (approximate spelling).

Stress: Stress falls on the second syllable: vance.

Verb sense: to move forward or go ahead.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Advance Meaning

to move forward or make progress

Part of speech: verb

Definition: move forward; go ahead

Example: The team advanced slowly through the snow.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• go on — Works well when advance means continue moving forward or continuing ahead.
• march on — A strong match when the movement is steady and deliberate.
• move on — Fits the everyday sense of going forward or continuing onward.
• pass on — Can work in a forward-movement sense, but is less direct than the others.
• progress — Works best in the figurative sense of moving forward or developing.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Advance

Meaning 2

done or happening earlier than needed

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: being ahead of time or need

Example: We sent an advance warning before the storm hit.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• beforehand — Matches the idea of happening earlier than expected or required.

Meaning 3

an improvement or step forward

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a change for the better; progress in development

Example: The new treatment was an advance in medicine.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• betterment — A real synonym when advance means improvement.
• improvement — A strong everyday substitute in this sense.

Meaning 4

forward movement

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a movement forward

Example: The army's advance was slowed by the weather.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• progress — Works when the noun means forward movement.
• progression — Acceptable in more formal or technical contexts.

Meaning 5

to promote someone

Part of speech: verb

Definition: give a promotion to or assign to a higher position

Example: She was advanced to a senior role last year.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• elevate — Can fit in formal usage, but it is less common than promote.
• promote — The clearest everyday synonym for this sense.
• raise — Can work in some contexts, though it is broader and less specific.
• upgrade — Possible in job-ranking contexts, but not as natural as promote.

Meaning 6

money paid early

Part of speech: noun

Definition: an amount paid before it is earned

Example: She asked for an advance on her salary.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• cash advance — A direct match for this financial sense.

Meaning 7

a move or suggestion meant to test a response

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others

Example: His advances were politely refused.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• approach — Can fit, but is broader than the specific social or strategic sense.
• feeler — A good match for a tentative trial suggestion.
• overture — Works well for a formal or diplomatic opening move.

Meaning 8

in front or earlier in position

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: situated ahead or going before

Example: An advance team arrived before the main group.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• advanced — Related but not always a direct substitute; it often means further developed.
• in advance — This is more of a phrase than a true adjective synonym, so it is only a limited match.

Meaning 9

to make something go up

Part of speech: verb

Definition: increase or raise

Example: The company advanced prices after the shortage.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• boost — A strong, practical synonym when advance means increase.
• supercharge — Can fit figuratively, but it is more forceful and less exact.

Meaning 10

a rise in price or value

Part of speech: noun

Definition: increase in price or value

Example: The stock saw a sharp advance.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• rise — The most natural synonym for this market or price sense.

Meaning 11

to gain an advantage

Part of speech: verb

Definition: obtain advantages, such as points, etc.

Example: The player advanced to the next round.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• gain — Works as a general synonym for getting an advantage.
• gain ground — Good when the idea is making progress in a contest or competition.
• get ahead — A natural everyday substitute.
• make headway — Works well for steady progress toward a goal.
• pull ahead — Fits competitive contexts, especially when moving ahead of others.
• win — Can fit some competitive uses, but it is broader than advance.

Meaning 12

to improve or move forward positively

Part of speech: verb

Definition: develop in a positive way

Example: The project advanced quickly after funding arrived.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• come along — A good everyday phrase for making positive progress.
• come on — Can work, but is less specific and more informal.
• get along — Common in the sense of progressing or developing well.
• get on — A natural synonym in British English and in some general contexts.
• progress — The clearest direct synonym for this sense.
• shape up — Works when something develops in a satisfactory way.

Meaning 13

to move something ahead, especially a clock or time

Part of speech: verb

Definition: move forward

Example: Don't forget to advance the clock tonight.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• set ahead — A good match when talking about clocks, dates, or schedules.

Meaning 14

forward movement toward a goal

Part of speech: noun

Definition: the act of moving forward (as toward a goal)

Example: The advance toward the border continued overnight.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• advancement — A strong synonym for forward movement or progress.
• forward motion — A clear literal equivalent.
• onward motion — A good fit for movement that continues forward.
• procession — Works only when the movement is orderly and group-based.
• progress — A common synonym when the movement is toward a goal.
• progression — Works in formal or abstract contexts.

Meaning 15

to go up in price or value

Part of speech: verb

Definition: rise in rate or price

Example: Shares advanced after the earnings report.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• gain — Fits well when prices or rates go up.

Meaning 16

to help something develop

Part of speech: verb

Definition: contribute to the progress or growth of

Example: The grant will advance scientific research.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• boost — A strong everyday synonym for helping growth or progress.
• encourage — Works when the meaning is to support development.
• further — A direct formal synonym in this sense.
• promote — A strong match when advance means help progress or growth.

Meaning 17

to put forward for discussion

Part of speech: verb

Definition: bring forward for consideration or acceptance

Example: She advanced a new theory at the conference.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• throw out — Can fit informally when an idea is put forward for discussion.

Meaning 18

to make something move forward

Part of speech: verb

Definition: cause to move forward

Example: The switch advances the paper through the printer.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• bring forward — A direct match for causing something to move forward.

Meaning 19

to pay money before it is due

Part of speech: verb

Definition: pay in advance

Example: Can you advance me some money?

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Advance Synonyms

Similar Meaning

• go on
• march on
• move on
• progress

being ahead of time or need

• beforehand

a change for the better; progress in development

• betterment
• improvement

a movement forward

• progress
• progression

give a promotion to or assign to a higher position

• promote

an amount paid before it is earned

• cash advance

a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others

• feeler
• overture

situated ahead or going before

• advanced

increase or raise

• boost
• supercharge

increase in price or value

• rise

obtain advantages, such as points, etc.

• gain
• gain ground
• get ahead
• make headway
• pull ahead

develop in a positive way

• come along
• get along
• get on
• progress
• shape up

move forward

• set ahead

the act of moving forward (as toward a goal)

• advancement
• forward motion
• onward motion
• progress
• progression

rise in rate or price

• gain

contribute to the progress or growth of

• boost
• encourage
• further
• promote

bring forward for consideration or acceptance

• throw out

cause to move forward

• bring forward

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

• Do not mix up the verb advance with the noun advance.
• Do not use advanced as a synonym for advance in every sense; advanced usually means more developed.
• Advance warning means early warning, not moving forward.
• A cash advance is money paid early, not a general improvement.
• His advances usually means romantic or social attempts, not movement forward.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main meaning of advance?

The most common meaning is to move forward or make progress.

What are the best synonyms for advance?

For the main verb sense, good synonyms include go on, move on, march on, and progress.

Can advance mean promotion?

Yes. As a verb, it can mean to promote someone to a higher position.

Does advance always mean something positive?

No. It can mean forward movement, early payment, a proposal, or a rise in price, depending on context.

What does in advance mean?

It means earlier than expected or before something happens.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.