advance
advance
Pronunciation
/ədˈvæns/
əd:
/ə/ - schwa, the unstressed vowel sound in "about"
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop, like the 'd' in "dog"
væns:
/æ/ - short 'a' sound as in "cat"
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal, like the 'n' in "nine"
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative, like the 's' in "sin"
Word Form Variations
Verb
Base Form: advance
Present Participle: advancing
Past Participle: advanced
Third Person Singular Present: advances
Noun
Singular: advance
Plural: advances
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition: To move forward, often purposefully or with intent. This can be a physical movement, a progression in time, or metaphorical progress in a process or development.
Synonyms: progress, proceed, further, promote, elevate
Antonyms: retreat, withdraw, hinder, regress, decline
Definition: To propose an idea, theory, or argument for consideration.
Synonyms: suggest, propose, offer, posit, submit
Antonyms: withdraw, retract, withhold
Definition: To provide funds or goods before payment or completion of work
Synonyms: loan, lend, prepay, front
Antonyms: repay, collect, withhold
Definition: To cause something to happen at an earlier time.
Synonyms: hasten, expedite, accelerate
Antonyms: delay, postpone, hinder
Noun
Definition: A forward movement, especially of troops or a disease.
Synonyms: progression, progress, headway, encroachment
Antonyms: retreat, withdrawal, regression
Definition: An improvement or development in something.
Synonyms: progress, breakthrough, innovation, step
Antonyms: setback, regression, decline
Definition: A rise in price, value, or amount.
Synonyms: increase, rise, gain, surge
Antonyms: decline, decrease, reduction, drop
Definition: An attempt to initiate a relationship, often romantic or sexual.
Synonyms: overture, proposition, approach
Antonyms: rejection, withdrawal
While "advance" can be used as an adjective (e.g., "advance payment"), it's primarily derived from the noun form, meaning "occurring beforehand." It doesn't have a distinct set of synonyms and antonyms in the same way the verb and noun forms do.
Examples of Use
Books:
Fiction: "The army advanced steadily across the plains, their banners fluttering in the wind." (Any historical fiction novel describing a battle scene)
Non-fiction: "Scientific advances in the 21st century have revolutionized medicine." (A textbook on medical history)
Newspapers:
"Stocks advanced for the third consecutive day, boosted by positive economic news." (Financial Times)
"Peace talks have failed to advance, with both sides refusing to compromise." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Tech companies are advancing artificial intelligence at an unprecedented rate." (Wired)
"Researchers are advancing the development of a new vaccine for malaria." (National Institutes of Health website)
Entertainment:
Movies: "The hero advanced towards the villain, sword drawn, ready for the final confrontation." (Countless action movies)
Video Games: "Advance to the next level by completing all the challenges." (Instructions for a video game)
Music: "The song's tempo advances gradually, building to a powerful crescendo." (A music review)
General Public Discourse:
Politics: "The candidate's campaign is advancing rapidly, gaining support in key states." (News commentary)
Social Issues: "Society has made great advances in promoting equality and inclusivity." (Public speech)
Everyday Conversation: "I'm trying to advance my career by taking on new responsibilities." (Casual conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Advance
"All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance." — Edward Gibbon
"The advance of civilization is nothing but an exercise in the limiting of privacy." — Isaac Asimov
"Advance confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." — Henry David Thoreau
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education. We must advance both." — Martin Luther King Jr. (paraphrased for clarity)
"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots. To advance, we must remember." — Marcus Garvey
"To advance, we must dare, and to dare, we must dream." — Euripides (paraphrased poetic rendering)
"The power to question is the basis of all human progress. Never stop questioning as you advance." — Indira Gandhi (paraphrased)
"The great aim of education is not knowledge but action — to equip us to advance." — Herbert Spencer
"Scientific discovery and artistic creativity both advance by breaking away from what is already known." — Albert Einstein (paraphrased)
"Every step we advance is built on the courage to leave the last one behind." — Barack Obama (reflecting on progress and leadership)
Etymology
Imagine a knight "advancing" on the battlefield. That image gives you a good sense of the word's origins!
"Advance" comes from a combination of words meaning "before" and "front." It ultimately traces back to the Latin word "abante," which meant "from before."
Think of it like this:
ab-: meaning "from" (like "absent" - away from being present)
ante-: meaning "before" (like "anterior" - the front part)
So, "abante" literally meant coming "from before" or "from the front." This evolved into the Old French word "avancier," which meant "to move forward."
The English borrowed "avancier" as "avauncen" around the 13th century. Interestingly, in the 16th century, people mistakenly thought the "a-" at the beginning was related to the Latin prefix "ad-" (meaning "to" or "toward"). This led to the addition of the "d," giving us the modern spelling "advance."
So, "advance" originally meant to move forward, like a knight charging into battle. Over time, it expanded to include other meanings like progress, propose ideas, and even lend money (think of it as giving something "beforehand").
Phrases + Idioms Containing Advance
Common Phrases:
in advance: beforehand (e.g., "book tickets in advance")
advance payment/booking: payment or reservation made ahead of time
advance warning: notification given beforehand
advance on/upon: to move forward towards something, often aggressively (e.g., "the army advanced on the city")
Less Common Phrases:
dead in advance: completely still or lifeless (more common in British English)
advance guard: a group of soldiers or people who go ahead of the main force
Phrases with Synonyms:
make headway: to make progress (e.g., "We're finally making headway on this project.")
forge ahead: to move forward with determination (e.g., "Despite the challenges, they forged ahead with their plans.")
push forward: to continue to advance (e.g., "We need to push forward with the reforms.")
gain ground: to make progress or become more successful (e.g., "The new political party is gaining ground.")
Original Phrases (for fun!):
advance with caution: to proceed carefully, anticipating potential problems
thoughts in advance: thinking ahead, planning for the future
advance to the dance floor: an invitation to dance (perhaps a bit cheesy!)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of advance from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
