advance 1 of 3

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
3
4
5
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
2

advance

3 of 3

adjective

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

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
Eight Democrats and one independent ultimately joined Schumer in voting to advance the bill. Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025 The celebration will honor the incredible talent advancing Asian and Pacific Islander representation in front of and behind the camera over the last year, and highlights their exceptional efforts in entertainment. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
Air travel since then has undergone a massive overhaul, with passengers and their luggage going through extensive screening at the airport and passenger information generally uploaded to TSA in advance of travel to facilitate screening. CBS News, 7 Mar. 2025 Recent advances in machine learning have also reduced the burdens of preparing data for the algorithms to process, making government data a veritable gold mine – one that rightfully belongs to the American people. Allison Stanger, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Tickets are free but advance registration is required. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2024 Thune is known as an honest and plainspoken dealmaker who will likely give his Republican colleagues more insight and advance notice of leadership decisions. Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for advance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for advance
Verb
  • The actress lent her voice to Phineas and Ferb from 2007 to 2015 as Candace — who she is set to reprise on the summer 2025 reboot season — and has voiced other characters on Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch, American Dad! and Ginger Snaps.
    Emma Kershaw, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
  • His stature as head of the world's largest asset manager lends weight to the conversation, and his emphasis on supplementing (not replacing) Social Security could make the concept more palatable to some.
    Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • While the platforms can be great ways to learn more about certain conditions or treatments, a new study found that many influencers are promoting medical tests that could do more harm than good.
    Kristen Fischer, Health, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Exercise also increases blood flow, which promotes healing.
    Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • About 20% of MASH cases progress into cirrhosis over several years.
    Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The Liverpool defender began the game on the front foot, and gave his opponent no time on the ball, but as the half progressed, Gordon was eventually able to isolate him.
    Andy Jones, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Leaders who are generous with their time, guidance, and support elevate not only their teams but their own influence.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • In the past two elections, however, Chicago voters elevated amateurs to the mayor’s office, with no management experience and minor political histories.
    Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Von Massow suggests a number of explanations for that.
    Scott Horsley, NPR, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Some experts even suggest putting a gate on your child's door and locking it, but other experts advise against it due to fire safety considerations.
    Laura Broadwell, Parents, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Manager David Moyes is approaching two months in post, and supporters are still waiting for clues as to what will follow once Premier League survival is secured.
    Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • In practice, Ryan says, parents can implement it by simply approaching the challenging moments with their kid from a place of curiosity rather than anger, rigidity or frustration.
    Miranda Rake, Parents, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • On Thursday, OpenAI submitted its proposal to the U.S. government, emphasizing the need for speed in AI advancement and a light hand from regulators while highlighting its take on the dangers of AI technology coming out of China.
    Hayden Field, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Many leaders in the AI industry and members of the Trump administration have framed America’s dominance in AI advancements as a matter of national security, comparing it to a high-stakes arms race.
    Angela Yang, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Their prospects for significant improvement this season seem minimal as their roster is mainly filled with castoffs and unproven young players.
    John Perrotto, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • This would include pursuing infrastructure grants, state environmental improvement funds, and potential partnerships with conservation organizations.
    Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Advance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/advance. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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