Meaning of advance in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ədˈvæns/

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  1. Verb

    advance

    Etymology

    Middle English: from Old French avance (noun), avancer (verb), from late Latin abante‘in front’, from ab‘from’ + ante‘before’. The initial a- was erroneously assimilated to ad- in the 16th century

    Definitions

    1. move forward, also in the metaphorical sense

    Examples

    • « Time marches on »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  2. 2. bring forward for consideration or acceptance

    Examples

    • « advance an argument »
  3. 3. increase or raise

    Examples

    • « boost the voltage in an electrical circuit »
  4. 4. contribute to the progress or growth of

    Examples

    • « I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom »

    Derived terms

  5. 5. cause to move forward

    Examples

    • « Can you move the car seat forward? »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  6. 6. obtain advantages, such as points, etc.

    Examples

    • « 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 »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  7. 7. develop in a positive way

    Examples

    • « He progressed well in school »
    • « My plants are coming along »
    • « Plans are shaping up »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  8. 8. develop further

    Examples

    • « We are advancing technology every day »

    Derived terms

  9. 9. give a promotion to or assign to a higher position

    Examples

    • « 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 »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  10. 10. pay in advance

    Examples

    • « Can you advance me some money? »

    Derived terms

  11. 11. move forward

    Examples

    • « we have to advance clocks and watches when we travel eastward »
  12. 12. rise in rate or price

    Examples

    • « The stock market gained 24 points today »

    Derived terms

  13. Noun

    advance

    Definitions

    1. a movement forward

    Examples

    • « he listened for the progress of the troops »

    Derived terms

  14. 2. a change for the better

    Examples

    • « progress in development »

    Derived terms

  15. 3. a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others

    Examples

    • « she rejected his advances »

    Derived terms

  16. 4. the act of moving forward toward a goal

    Derived terms

  17. 5. an amount paid before it is earned
  18. 6. increase in price or value

    Examples

    • « the news caused a general advance on the stock market »

    Derived terms

Famous quotes

  • « In the Soviet army it takes more courage to retreat than advance. »
    Joseph Stalin
  • « Progress however, of the best kind, is comparatively slow. Great results cannot be achieved at once and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step. »
    Samuel Smiles
  • « If they exert it not for good, they will for evil if they advance not knowledge, they will perpetuate ignorance. »
    Frances Wright
  • « Since we can't know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able to learn whatever needs to be learned. »
    John Holt
  • « No advance in wealth, no softening of manners, no reform or revolution has ever brought human equality a millimeter nearer. »
    George Orwell

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