advance 1 of 3

verb

əd-ˈvan(t)s How to pronounce advance (audio)
Definition of advancenext
1
as in to lend
to give to another for temporary use with the understanding that it or a like thing will be returned advanced her some cash with the understanding that the amount would be deducted from her first paycheck

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to promote
to help the growth or development of great thinkers who did much to advance modern science

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to progress
to move forward along a course as the technology advances, electronic devices keep getting smaller and smarter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to elevate
to move higher in rank or position within six months was advanced to the position of head waiter, to the dismay of the waiters who had been there much longer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to suggest
to set before the mind for consideration let me explain my reasons for advancing this proposal

Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to approach
to move closer to advanced cautiously toward the snarling dog

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

advance

2 of 3

noun

1
as in progress
forward movement in time or place during her long convalescence, the housebound woman was barely aware of the advance of the seasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in improvement
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill under her new teacher, the aspiring violinist has made noticeable advances in her technique in just a few weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

advance

3 of 3

adjective

as in early

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb advance contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of advance are forward, further, and promote. While all these words mean "to help (someone or something) to move ahead," advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end.

advance the cause of peace

When is it sensible to use forward instead of advance?

While in some cases nearly identical to advance, forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead.

a wage increase would forward productivity

When would further be a good substitute for advance?

The synonyms further and advance are sometimes interchangeable, but further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance.

used the marriage to further his career

When can promote be used instead of advance?

The words promote and advance can be used in similar contexts, but promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.

a campaign to promote better health

How does the verb advance contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of advance are forward, further, and promote. While all these words mean "to help (someone or something) to move ahead," advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end.

advance the cause of peace

When is it sensible to use forward instead of advance?

While in some cases nearly identical to advance, forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead.

a wage increase would forward productivity

When would further be a good substitute for advance?

The synonyms further and advance are sometimes interchangeable, but further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance.

used the marriage to further his career

When can promote be used instead of advance?

The words promote and advance can be used in similar contexts, but promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.

a campaign to promote better health

How does the verb advance contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of advance are forward, further, and promote. While all these words mean "to help (someone or something) to move ahead," advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end.

advance the cause of peace

When is it sensible to use forward instead of advance?

While in some cases nearly identical to advance, forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead.

a wage increase would forward productivity

When would further be a good substitute for advance?

The synonyms further and advance are sometimes interchangeable, but further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance.

used the marriage to further his career

When can promote be used instead of advance?

The words promote and advance can be used in similar contexts, but promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.

a campaign to promote better health

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of advance
Verb
The winners will advance to the second round, to be played April 29 and May 1. —Chip Saye, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Global financial officials warned at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings that advanced AI models—particularly Anthropic’s Claude Mythos—could pose systemic risks by rapidly uncovering and exploiting cyber vulnerabilities across banks and critical infrastructure. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
But some movies, either deliberately or inadvertently, manage to offer glimpses into the future, either through visions of technological advances or predicted social and political trends. —David Faris, TheWeek, 22 Apr. 2026 As tech advances, so does the curriculum — a new course, Gen AI for Film and Television, allows students to use popular apps to experiment with storytelling, pre-visualization, production, and post-production workflows. —Carole Horst, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
If that happens, the Knicks would be fresh going into a second-round series against the Pistons (assuming they advance). —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026 Recipients pay lower health insurance premiums on a monthly basis due to this advance premium tax credit. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for advance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for advance
  1. lend
  2. promote
  3. progress
  4. elevate
  5. suggest
  6. approach
  7. advancement
  8. improvement
Verb
  • According to the unsigned interim agreement, the developer would finance a portion of the project by lending the city $24 million, which the city would pay back at 11 percent interest post-tax.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Something borrowed Abby Rodriguez lends Sophie Janinet a veil for her wedding.
    — Dania Maxwell, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Definition of lend
Verb
  • The Twins plan to promote Kendry Rojas to the big-league roster in time for Tuesday’s series opener at the New York Mets, according to a team source.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
  • The busy World's Most Beautiful cover star is promoting two films at the same time, and appears to be rocking bangs for her Devil Wears Prada 2 press and her regular face-framing layers for Mother Mary events (like this one, a week after the one above).
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of promote
Verb
  • Injury updates The laceration on reliever Ethan Roberts’ right middle finger continues to progress in the right direction.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Moreover, these hyperactive behaviors became even more intense as the study progressed, showing a lasting shift in how the fish navigated their environment.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of progress
Verb
  • Or, for your next airport outfit, opt for a drapey button-down, buttery-soft joggers, and a roomy crossbody bag that keeps your essentials close while elevating your entire look.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Space agency officials’ blood pressure was further elevated as experts closely watched the performance of the craft’s heat shield, which astronauts rely on to slow them down and keep temperatures livable.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Definition of elevate
Verb
  • And as this headline suggests, today’s distribution agreements really are true partnerships that require filmmakers to pull their share of the marketing weight.
    — Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 22 Apr. 2026
  • These observations suggest that small, mysterious moons with surprisingly different natures are the source of the particles that make up the two outermost rings, and that there are probably even more undiscovered moons to add to the 29 already known around Uranus.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Definition of suggest
Verb
  • The employee was taking an order in the drive-through line when Peavey approached her from behind and struck her with the brick.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2026
  • With the midterms approaching, certain primaries have reflected broader debates about whether the Party might consider cursing more, capitalizing tweets, going Dark Woke.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of approach
Noun
  • This advancement could bring these powerful light sources out of massive facilities and into more accessible labs, potentially reshaping research in physics, chemistry, medicine, and industry.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026
  • And enormous advancements in robotics, computer analytics and molecular chemistry in the early 1990s meant drug companies were primed to meet that moment.
    — Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Definition of advancement
Noun
  • Sometimes, the departure of an underperforming executive or official presages improvements ahead.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The upgrades the city is proposing to fund include pedestrian bridges, a dedicated rideshare parking lot, a roof over the stadium plaza, digital signage and other improvements around the stadium.
    — J.D. Miles, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Definition of improvement

Phrases Containing advance

Browse Nearby Words

adumbrating
advance
advanced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Advance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/advance. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of advance for Spanish Speakers

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