- the act of moving forward toward a goal

- increase in price or value
"the news caused a general advance on the stock market"

- a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others
"she rejected his advances"

- a change for the better

- progress in development

- a movement forward
"he listened for the progress of the troops"

- an amount paid before it is earned

- rise in rate or price
"The stock market gained 24 points today"

- develop in a positive way
"He progressed well in school"
"My plants are coming along"
"Plans are shaping up"

- increase or raise
"boost the voltage in an electrical circuit"

- develop further
"We are advancing technology every day"

- bring forward for consideration or acceptance
"advance an argument"

- obtain advantages, such as points, etc.
"The home team was gaining ground"
"After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference"

- move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
"Time marches on"

- cause to move forward
"Can you move the car seat forward?"

- move forward
"we have to advance clocks and watches when we travel eastward"

- pay in advance
"Can you advance me some money?"

- give a promotion to or assign to a higher position
"John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired"
"Women tend not to advance in the major law firms"
"I got promoted after many years of hard work"

- contribute to the progress or growth of
"I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom"

1. To bring forward; to move towards the van or front; to make to go on.

2. To raise; to elevate. [Archaic]

"They . . . advanced their eyelids. Shak." --

3. To raise to a higher rank; to promote.

"Ahasueres . . . advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes. Esther iii. 1." --

4. To accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward; to help on; to aid; to heighten; as, to advance the ripening of fruit; to advance one's interests.

5. To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show; as, to advance an argument.

"Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own. Pope." --

6. To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten.

7. To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due, or in aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand; as, a merchant advances money on a contract or on goods consigned to him.

8. To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate; as, to advance the price of goods.

9. To extol; to laud. [Obs.]

"Greatly advancing his gay chivalry. Spenser." --

Syn. -- To raise; elevate; exalt; aggrandize; improve; heighten; accelerate; allege; adduce; assign.

1. To move or go forward; to proceed; as, he advanced to greet me.

2. To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to advance in knowledge, in stature, in years, in price.

3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred or promoted.

"Advanced to a level with ancient peers. Prescott." --

1. The act of advancing or moving forward or upward; progress.

2. Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or religion; an advance in rank or office.

3. An addition to the price; rise in price or value; as, an advance on the prime cost of goods.

4. The first step towards the attainment of a result; approach made to gain favor, to form an acquaintance, to adjust a difference, etc.; an overture; a tender; an offer; -- usually in the plural.

"[He] made the like advances to the dissenters. Swift." --

5. A furnishing of something before an equivalent is received (as money or goods), towards a capital or stock, or on loan; payment beforehand; the money or goods thus furnished; money or value supplied beforehand.

"I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances. Jay." --

"The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been made. Kent." --

In advance
(a) In front; before. (b) Beforehand; before an equivalent is received. (c) In the state of having advanced money on account; as, A is in advance to B a thousand dollars or pounds.

1. Before in place, or beforehand in time; -- used for advanced; as, an advance guard, or that before the main guard or body of an army; advance payment, or that made before it is due; advance proofs, advance sheets, pages of a forthcoming volume, received in advance of the time of publication.