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
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
Since Cashman got rid of Joe Girardi for Boone, the Yankees have never advanced past a division series as a wild card. — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 The four crew members spent 237 days living and working inside the space station — advancing scientific research while traveling more than 100 million miles, completing 3,792 orbits around Earth, NASA officials said in a statement. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
Vice Mayor Brian Corey said city leaders are continuing to gather public input as the proposal advances. — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 Long before the famous Manhattan Project was established in early August 1942, another effort to weaponise half a century of advances in physics was underway. — Mike McRae 06, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The survey was, however, conducted before the release of June’s advance economic indicators report, which showed ⁠a moderate contraction in the goods trade deficit and retail inventories unchanged. — Reuters, NBC news, 30 July 2026 The survey was, however, conducted before the release of June's advance economic indicators report, which showed a moderate contraction in the goods trade deficit and retail inventories unchanged. — Lucia Mutikani, USA Today, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for advance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for advance
Verb
  • The rooftop bar looks over Hyde Park, lending a welcome (and rather rare) sense of openness in central London, while ABC Kitchen—the London outpost of the New York restaurant famed for its crab toast—brings in a high-flying food crowd.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Broadcom — The semiconductor maker’s stock rose more than 3% after Reuters reported Broadcom has agreed to lend Anthropic up to $42 billion to finance infrastructure purchases .
    — Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The group emphasized that its request isn't intended to promote robocalls.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The actor stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote their latest film, Digger (and gamely participate in a cooking segment with Wishbone Kitchen).
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • And indeed, no patients with undetectable ctDNA before endocrine therapy progressed.
    — Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The show has also progressed from a solely in-person experience to one with main-stage panels that are streamed live for fans around the world via YouTube — a move born out of the COVID-19 pandemic-era virtual cons that has stuck.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Analysts anticipate that gold prices will remain constrained in the short term by a strong US dollar and elevated US Treasury yields.
    — , CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • While the property’s extensive and expensive renovation has elevated nearly every corner of the resort, the room doors appear to have been overlooked.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Fed Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday that more hikes are needed to bring inflation down after around 5-and-a-half years above the central bank's 2% target, but suggested rates did not need to rise immediately.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Patients with detectable ctDNA at six months were 30 times more likely to progress in their disease during the study, suggesting ctDNA was a marker of potential progression.
    — Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Built in 1965 and 1970, respectively, the vessels are approaching the limits of their service lives.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Warm air will quickly surge in on Tuesday out of the southwest ahead of another approaching trough and its associated low pressure and cold front.
    — Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Mira believes advancement in their field will come through human-AI interaction.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • There is a more optimistic alternative — assuming a new incentive structure that disengages problem-solving and theorem-proving from jobs, advancement, and recognition.
    — Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Toyota has not announced a specific new battery chemistry, range improvement or performance breakthrough from the center.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Court records show that most of the financial exploitation was related to improvements to the Monroe home.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Advance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/advance. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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