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- DictionaryAd·vance/ədˈvans/
verb
- 1. move forward in a purposeful way: "the troops advanced on the capital" Similar move forwardproceedmove alongpress onpush onpush forwardmake progressmake headwayforge onforge aheadgain groundapproachcome closermove closermove nearerdraw nearerneardated:draw nighOpposite retreat
- ▪ cause (an event) to occur at an earlier date than planned: "I advanced the date of the meeting by several weeks" Similar bring forwardput forwardmove forwardmake earlierOpposite postpone
- 2. make or cause to make progress: "our knowledge is advancing all the time" Similar promotefurtherforwardhelpaidassistfacilitatebooststrengthenimprovemake betterbenefitfostercultivateencouragesupportbackprogressmake progressmake headwaydevelopimprovebecome betterthriveflourishprospermatureevolvemake stridesmove forward (in leaps and bounds)move aheadget aheadinformal:go placesget somewhereOpposite impedehinder
- ▪ (especially of shares of stock) increase in price: "two stocks advanced for every one that fell"
- 3. put forward (a theory or suggestion): "the hypothesis I wish to advance in this article" Similar put forwardpresentcome up withsubmitsuggestproposeintroduceput upofferprofferadducemootOpposite retract
- 4. lend (money) to (someone): "the bank advanced them a loan" Similar lendloancreditpay in advancesupply on creditpay output upcome up withcontributegivedonatehand overinformal:dish outshell outfork outcough upsubOpposite borrow
- ▪ pay (money) to (someone) before it is due: "he advanced me a month's salary"
noun
- 1. a forward movement: "the rebels' advance on Madrid was well under way" Similar progressheadwaymoving forwardforward movementapproachnearingcomingarrival
- 2. a development or improvement: "genuine advances in engineering techniques" Similar breakthroughdevelopmentstep forwardstep in the right directionleapquantum leapfindfindingdiscoveryinventionsuccessheadwayprogressadvancementevolutionimprovementbettermentfurtherance
- ▪ an increase or rise in amount, value, or price: "bond prices posted vigorous advances" Similar increaseriseupturnupsurgeupswinggrowthboomboostelevationescalationaugmentationinformal:hike
- 3. an amount of money paid before it is due or for work only partly completed: "the author was paid a $250,000 advance" Similar down paymentadvance against royaltydepositretainerprepaymentfront moneymoney up front
- ▪ a loan: "an advance from the bank"
- 4. an approach made to someone, typically with the aim of initiating a sexual encounter: "women accused him of making improper advances" Similar sexual approachesoverturesmovesa passproposalpropositionoffersuggestionappealinformal:come-on
adjective
- 1. done, sent, or supplied beforehand: "advance notice" Similar preliminaryleadingforwardforemostat the foresent (on) aheadfirstexploratoryexplorativepilotvanguardtesttrialearlypreviouspriorbeforehand
Word Origin 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.
Derivatives
- 1. advancer noun
Scrabble Points: 13
A
1D
2V
4A
1N
1C
3E
1
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