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to advance

to advance

417 3.4
To help something move forward or become better
  • verb
  • /ədˈvæns/
translation icon : impulsar
  • The negotiations focused on how to reduce poverty, advance social equity, and ensure environmental protection.
  • advance understanding
  • advance technology
  • advance knowledge

He just cares about advancing his own corruption.

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Examples

  • Normally we try to advance one more step, right?

  • Each participant was excited to continue to advance this educational model into the larger educational community.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Everything is used to advance your goals.

  • Just find the next firm stone to advance your progress.

  • His research promised to advance our primitive understanding of science.

  • Some young people look elsewhere to advance their musical skills and keep their ears growing.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Building political support for the web while advancing web technology became his central passion.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The feedback provided by the tutor helped the children advance toward completion of the task.

    Academic text (2012)
  • As importantly, however, a skills-based approach fails to advance the progress of all students.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Paul Wicks says sharing information about your health can advance medical science and improve society.

Synonyms

to develop
vsto advance
905 1.6

To grow or change slowly to become more mature

includes that growth but also active movement or assistance
to move on
vsto advance
670 3.1

To start the next stage or activity and stop focusing on the past

is broader, applying to all kinds of forward movement or help
to evolve
vsto advance
591 4.0

To change or develop slowly over time, often becoming more advanced

is similar but also covers deliberate progress or help
to promote
vsto advance
566 3.2

Help something grow and become more successful

can mean the same help but also simple forward movement
to encourage
vsto advance
325 2.1

Help something grow or develop

is broader, including moving forward without necessarily giving support
to get on
vsto advance
  • UK
279 3.2

Make progress with a project

also implies moving forward actively or helping something improve
to boost
vsto advance
265 2.5

To make something increase or work better

is general forward action or assistance rather than just increasing power
to making progress
vsto advance
251 2.8

Getting better at a task or skill you are working on

also covers helping something else develop or succeed
to progress
vsto advance
209 2.5

Move forward or get better over time

adds the idea of active help or deliberate forward movement
to come along
vsto advance
125 2.9

To get better or improve over time

emphasizes forward action and helping improvement as well
to come on
vsto advance
119 3.2

Start to get better

is wider, meaning both forward movement and active support
to further
vsto advance
102 3.5

To help something make progress or grow

also covers physical or direct forward movement, not just support
to get ahead
vsto advance
83 3.4

Do better than others, for example at work or school

focuses on general forward development rather than competitive gain
to move ahead
vsto advance
61 2.7

To start or continue something so it gets closer to a goal

is broader, also meaning to help something develop or improve
to elevate
vsto advance
  • Formal
52 4.4

To give someone a higher job or rank

is more general forward movement, not only status elevation
to raise
vsto advance
38 2.7

To move someone to a higher job or rank

is about moving forward in many ways, not only rank changes
to march on
vsto advance
30 3.3

Move forward in a steady, determined way

is the general idea of moving forward or helping progress
to move beyond
vsto advance
29 4.3

To go past a problem and start something better

is wider, covering any forward movement or assistance
to get along
vsto advance
27 2.1

Manage or do well in a situation

focuses more on forward movement or helping others improve
to shape up
vsto advance
23 3.2

Start to get better and more complete

carries the extra sense of deliberate forward motion or aid
to push forward
vsto advance
19 3.1

To keep making progress despite problems

covers forward movement more generally without stressing effort
to gain ground
vsto advance
16 4.0

To make progress and become more successful than others

is general forward movement, not only relative advantage
to pull ahead
vsto advance
9 3.4

To move into a leading position in a race or competition

is broader progress, not limited to gaining a lead
to progress to
vsto advance
9 3.6

Move on to a higher level after getting better

is the general act of moving forward or aiding development
to make headway
vsto advance
9 3.5

To make slow progress when it is difficult

is the normal act of moving forward or helping improvement
to bring forward
vsto advance
1 3.6

To move something closer to the front, for example a chair

is broader, covering abstract or practical progress and improvement
advancing
vsto advance
3.4

Moving forward or making progress slowly and steadily

is broader, including both action and helping something improve

Antonyms

475 1.0

To move in the direction behind you

29 4.8

To move back or become less strong

24 7.5

To return to an earlier, less developed or worse state

Idioms

278 1.8

Before something happens or someone needs it

Compounds

cash advance
  • Specialized
9 3.8

Money you get before you earn it, often as a loan

advance death benefit
  • Specialized
7.0

A part of life insurance paid early to a person likely to die soon

annuity in advance
  • Specialized
8.0

A series of payments people receive at the start of each period

film advance
  • Archaic
5.6

A part in a camera or projector that moves the film to the next picture

spark advance
  • Specialized
8.0

The timing of the spark that lights the fuel and air in an engine, measured by the piston's position

How Far

to transform
523 3.4
to accelerate
  • Specialized
331 3.7
to advance
417 3.4
to move ahead
61 2.7
to nudge
33 3.8

Surface Forms

advance infinitive
advanced past
advanced past participle
advancing present participle
advances third person singular

Etymology

To advance a cause or help something develop comes from Old French avancer 'move forward' and Latin ante 'before', so to advance something is to push it ahead or make it go forward.