English Reference

Phrasal verb

advance to

Definition

phrasal verb. to move forward to a higher level, a later stage, or a new position.

phrasal verb. to progress to a subsequent stage or higher rank. Transitive when followed by a prepositional object; often used in competitive, professional, or military contexts.

Examples

“The team will advance to the finals next week.”

“After three years in the junior role, she finally managed to advance to a senior management position.”

“The battalion continued to advance to the northern ridge despite the deteriorating weather conditions and limited visibility.”

Examples

simple

“The team will advance to the finals next week.”

contextual

“After three years in the junior role, she finally managed to advance to a senior management position.”

complex

“The battalion continued to advance to the northern ridge despite the deteriorating weather conditions and limited visibility.”

Usage

typically followed by a noun representing a goal, a rank, or a physical destination.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'move to' which is neutral; 'advance to' implies effort, achievement, or a structured progression through levels.

Phrasal verb

Particles

to

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

advance + to + object

Synonyms

progress tomove up toreachproceed to

Antonyms

retreat fromwithdrawregress

Grammar

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/advance-to

English Reference