Synonyms of advance

advance 1 of 3

verb

əd-ˈvan(t)s 

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

• lend
• give
• loan
• furnish
• grant
• rent
• let
• lease

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• take
• receive
• borrow

2

as in to promote

to help the growth or development of

great thinkers who did much to advance modern science

Synonyms & Similar Words

• promote
• encourage
• cultivate
• foster
• nurture
• forward
• further
• assist
• support
• nourish
• advocate
• aid
• endorse
• fund
• incubate
• finance
• nurse
• underwrite
• back
• uphold
• subsidize
• advertise
• indorse
• patronize
• publicize
• boost
• champion
• work (for)
• endow
• stake
• campaign (for)
• abet
• plug
• agitate (for)
• tout

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prevent
• hinder
• discourage
• inhibit
• frustrate
• prohibit
• oppose
• forbid
• enjoin
• fight
• combat
• counter
• proscribe
• bar
• ban
• contend (with)
• outlaw
• interdict
• battle
• suppress
• check
• retard
• stifle
• halt
• impede
• repress
• arrest
• subdue
• interfere (with)
• obstruct
• squelch
• encumber
• squash
• snuff (out)
• hobble
• fetter
• shackle
• manacle

3

as in to progress

to move forward along a course

as the technology advances, electronic devices keep getting smaller and smarter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• progress
• proceed
• do
• march
• come
• go
• forge
• get along
• go along
• come along
• pace
• go off
• fare
• get on
• accelerate
• speed
• gain ground
• approach
• push
• travel
• drive
• propel
• repair
• near
• pass
• journey
• actuate
• impel
• fast-forward
• run
• take out
• wend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remain
• stay
• stop
• stand
• hinder
• impede
• check
• halt
• obstruct
• delay
• arrest
• stem
• slow (down or up)
• retard
• block
• suppress
• hold back
• detain
• interrupt
• inhibit
• repress
• hamper
• balk
• cease
• stall
• wait
• stunt
• pause
• nip
• cramp
• let up
• regress

4

as in to elevate

to move higher in rank or position

within six months was advanced to the position of head waiter, to the dismay of the waiters who had been there much longer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• promote
• elevate
• upgrade
• forward
• improve
• further
• raise
• kick upstairs
• heighten
• uplift
• lift
• boost
• aggrandize
• honor
• celebrate
• commend
• compliment
• congratulate
• knight
• commission
• applaud
• ennoble
• cite
• acclaim
• decorate
• salute
• exalt
• praise
• laud
• extol
• hail
• eulogize
• glorify
• extoll

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduce
• degrade
• lower
• remove
• downgrade
• overthrow
• dismiss
• impeach
• expel
• oust
• unseat
• depose
• humble
• shame
• take down
• dishonor
• humiliate
• demote
• abase
• disgrace
• demean
• dethrone
• condemn
• denounce
• unmake
• damn
• censure
• mortify
• reprobate

5

as in to suggest

to set before the mind for consideration

let me explain my reasons for advancing this proposal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suggest
• propose
• offer
• pose
• recommend
• vote
• put forward
• present
• put forth
• propound
• bounce
• proffer
• submit
• nominate
• plan
• move
• file
• arrange
• shape
• plot
• tender
• trot out
• chart
• calculate
• map
• lodge
• lay
• contrive
• cover
• frame

6

as in to approach

to move closer to

advanced cautiously toward the snarling dog

Synonyms & Similar Words

• approach
• come
• enter
• near
• nigh
• drop in
• pop (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• go
• withdraw
• leave
• retreat
• depart
• recede (from)
• exit

advance

2 of 3

noun

1

as in progress

forward movement in time or place

during her long convalescence, the housebound woman was barely aware of the advance of the seasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

• progress
• advancement
• process
• progression
• procession
• going
• march
• furtherance
• headway
• flow
• passage
• coming
• leap
• onrush
• approach
• stream
• arrival
• current
• way
• drift
• advent
• step
• flux
• jump
• nearing
• impetus
• momentum
• bound
• stride

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• retreat
• regression
• retrogression
• regress
• recession
• return
• recess
• ebb
• reverse
• reversal
• retraction
• reflux
• turnaround
• backwash
• turnabout
• about-face

2

as in improvement

an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill

under her new teacher, the aspiring violinist has made noticeable advances in her technique in just a few weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• improvement
• advancement
• breakthrough
• development
• enhancement
• innovation
• discovery
• refinement
• increase
• evolution
• strengthening
• maturation
• betterment
• education
• growth
• upturn
• amelioration
• find
• upswing
• enlightenment
• ripening
• expansion
• civilization
• quantum leap
• elaboration
• boost
• uplift
• revival
• gestation
• edification
• upgrade
• renaissance
• heightening
• melioration
• perfection
• windfall
• uptrend
• renascence
• invention

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• setback
• breakdown
• collapse
• reduction
• crash
• decrease
• impediment
• hindrance
• failing
• decline
• deterioration
• lapse
• stumbling block
• weakening
• decay
• degeneration
• sinking
• worsening
• slowing
• lessening
• detriment
• descent
• decadence
• downgrade
• impairment
• shortcoming
• drawback
• declension
• glitch
• diminishment
• flagging
• disablement
• languishment
• ebbing

advance

3 of 3

adjective

as in early

Synonyms & Similar Words

• early
• premature
• previous
• prior
• preceding
• initial
• precedent
• earliest
• pioneer
• antecedent
• foregoing
• preliminary
• anterior
• first
• former
• inaugural
• preexisting
• original
• maiden
• introductory
• erstwhile
• whilom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subsequent
• following
• later
• succeeding
• ensuing
• advanced
• after
• posterior
• late
• final
• last
• latter
• latest
• ultimate
• concluding
• terminal
• closing

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

Examples of advance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Since then-President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement in 2018, Iran has been advancing toward becoming a nuclear weapon state, international monitors say. —Doha Madani, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2024

Both factions reliably seek to advance Republican interests and causes, but one faction sometimes favors tactics the other believes to be counterproductive. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 25 Sep. 2024

Noun

University of Wisconsin-Madison Union South The Marquee at Union South (1308 W. Dayton St., Madison) Join the Thompson Center and the Elections Research Center to watch the presidential debate starting at 8 p.m. Doors will open 30 minutes in advance. —Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2024

The craft was launched in advance of Artemis III, a NASA effort to send a human mission to the moon, in 2026, in part to collect samples of soil from the lunar south pole. —Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

Adjective

While most activities are included in your stay, a few require advance sign-ups, and even fewer require an extra fee. —Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2024

Biden's 2025 budget seeks return of advance child tax credits There is no mention on the IRS website of a program matching the one described in the post, and tax experts told USA TODAY the claim is false. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA TODAY, 17 June 2024

Phrases Containing advance

• in advance
• in advance of