# advance

/ədˈvæns/ (US) · /ɐdvˈæns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/advance
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to move forward

verb · CEFR B1

to move forward towards a goal or a place.

For teachers: to move forward in a purposeful manner, often in a military or strategic context.

- The army began to advance toward the city at dawn.
- The infantry continued to advance despite the heavy rain, determined to reach the high ground before the enemy could regroup.

### 2. to make progress

verb · CEFR B2

to develop or improve in knowledge or skill.

For teachers: to make progress in a career, field of study, or developmental process.

- She worked hard to advance her career in the tech industry.
- Medical science has advanced significantly over the last decade, leading to much higher survival rates for previously untreatable conditions.

### 3. to pay early

verb · CEFR B2

to give someone money before the usual time they should receive it.

For teachers: to pay a sum of money before it is legally due or before a task is completed.

- The company agreed to advance him a month's salary to help with his move.
- The publisher offered to advance a portion of the royalties to the author upon the signing of the contract.

### 4. an improvement

noun · CEFR B2

a development or improvement in a particular area.

For teachers: a forward step or a significant development in a field of knowledge or activity.

- The new battery technology is a major advance for electric cars.
- Recent advances in artificial intelligence have sparked a global debate regarding the ethical implications of automated decision-making.

### 5. early payment

noun · CEFR B2

money paid to you before you have earned it or before it is due.

For teachers: a sum of money paid in advance of work being done or a debt falling due.

- She used her book advance to pay off her student loans.
- The contractor requested a ten percent advance to cover the initial cost of materials before starting the renovation.

### 6. social/romantic approach

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an attempt to start a romantic or sexual relationship with someone.

For teachers: an approach or overture made to someone, typically with a romantic or sexual intent; often used in the plural.

- She rejected his romantic advances because she wanted to stay friends.
- The employee filed a formal complaint after a senior manager made several unwelcome sexual advances during the conference.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'advances'.

### 7. done beforehand

adjective · CEFR B1

happening or done before a particular event.

For teachers: done, given, or happening before a specific time or event; used attributively before a noun.

- You need to make an advance booking if you want a table on Friday.
- The security team received advance warning of the protest, allowing them to implement additional safety measures before the crowd arrived.

## Examples

- The new medicine is a major advance in cancer treatment.
- The army halted its advance at the border to wait for further instructions from the general.
- Recent technological advances have fundamentally altered the way we communicate, making it possible to share information across the globe in a matter of seconds.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.