From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishadvancead‧vance1 /ədˈvɑːns $ ədˈvæns/ ●●○ W3 noun 1 → in advance (of something)2 → be in advance of somebody/something3 development/improvementPROGRESS [countable] a change, discovery, or invention that brings progresstechnological/scientific/medical etc advance one of the great technological advances of the 20th century a major advanceadvance in Recent advances in genetics have raised moral questions.advance on an advance on previous treatments the advances made in the understanding of mental handicap► see thesaurus at progress4 forward movement [countable]FORWARD forward movement or progress of a group of people – used especially to talk about soldiersadvance on the enemy’s advance on St. Petersburg5 money [countable usually singular]PAY FOR money paid to someone before the usual time, especially someone’s salary a $500 advanceadvance on Krebs decided to ask for an advance on his salary.6 → advances7 increaseINCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT [countable] an increase in the price or value of something – used especially when talking about the stock exchange
Examples from the Corpus
advance• Advances in medical science may make it possible for people to live for 150 years.• Dr Martineau had written an article about advances in medicine over the last five years.• Despite these somewhat pessimistic conclusions, the study represents an advance on earlier studies in this field of inquiry.• There was a big advance in the price of gold today.• The last 20 years have seen enormous advances in communications technology.• When she declined his advances, he entrusted her to a matron of a sinful house.• But it is also useful to plan formal dissemination in advance.• Reserve tickets in advance by calling the box office at 622-2823.• The child is warned in advance about those behaviours that are considered inappropriate and the consequences that will follow from them.• Every yard of advance was strewn with the fallen.• Being purely quantitative measures, they fail to illuminate qualitative advances.• Observers monitored the army's advance on the capital.• On the other hand, past concerns have been solved by technological advances.• The discovery marks a significant technological advance.technological/scientific/medical etc advance• Furthermore, the competitive market system would seem to provide an environment conducive to the rapid diffusion of a technological advance.• However, affluence and technological advances have created new kinds of safety hazards for people who live in Western society.• From the first, these universal histories represented both scientific advances and political and religious challenges.• Competition and complementarity between systems are being stressed, together with an assessment of likely technological advances.• Moreover, technological advances compound engine makers' problems.• Other medical advances were often the subject of rather more hesitation.• Despite all the technological advances of science, it seemed survival still depended on the action of a man.advanceadvance2 ●●○ W3 verb 1 move forwardFORWARD [intransitive] to move towards someone or something, especially in a slow and determined way – used especially to talk about soldiers A line of US tanks slowly advanced.advance on Troops advanced on the rebel stronghold (=moved towards it in order to attack it).advance across/through/towards The army advanced across the plain.2 developPROGRESS [intransitive, transitive] if scientific or technical knowledge advances, or if something advances it, it develops and improves Our understanding of human genetics has advanced considerably. The group’s research has done much to advance our knowledge of the HIV virus.3 moneyPAY FOR [transitive] to give someone money before they have earned itadvance somebody something Will they advance you some money until you get your first paycheck?advance something to somebody I advanced $1,500 to Kramer last Thursday.4 → advance your career/a cause/your interests etc5 priceINCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT [intransitive] if the price or value of something advances, it increases – used especially when talking about the stock exchange6 time/dateBEFORE [transitive] formal to change the time or date when an event should happen to an earlier time or date The meeting has been advanced to ten o'clock.7 machineTMC [intransitive, transitive] formal if you advance a film, clock, musical recording etc, or if it advances, it goes forward → advancing→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
advance• The players get paid based on how far they advance.• Villagers hid in the hills as the troops advanced.• In early 1940 the army began to advance across France.• Ten goals in nine matches since he returned from Sydney suggest that his reputation is advancing by the week.• Our knowledge of the deepest parts of the ocean has advanced considerably over the last ten years.• The plane slowly advanced down the runway and then paused, ready for take-off.• Two possible interpretations of this effect were advanced in Chapter 5.• No such argument has been advanced in the present case, and their Lordships need say nothing about it.• Only once before had they advanced past the Minnesota 31.• These men advanced the same arguments against Holy Trinity that conservative theologians employed against the progressive Church.• Oil stocks advanced today in heavy trading.• Computer technology is advancing very rapidly.advance across/through/towards• No one should be expected to advance through life-or school-in quite the same way as anyone else.• Again and again I attempted to advance towards my father.• I had advanced through the ranks and held a responsible middle-management position.• She advanced through the shadows less cautiously, her only fear now that there would be no one to meet her.• Tickets cost £12 and are bookable in advance through the Theatre Administrator.• These aims were to be advanced through the twin application of development plans and development control powers.• The railway had advanced across the Urals by 1874.• Tickets are $ 7 at the door or in advance through Ticketmaster, 321-1000.advance somebody something• Will they advance you some money until your get your first paycheck? advanceadvance3 adjective 1 → advance planning/warning/booking etc2 → advance party/team3 → advance copyExamples from the Corpus
advance• Advance bookings for the concert start today.• It will also repay advance bookings.• The aim was to give the writers the advance information they always sought and to gain interest from cinemas.• Airport visas may be obtained if forty-eight hours advance notice has been provided.• Admission to the museum and parking are free, but advance parking reservations are required.• I had flown out to Novosibirsk with the advance party at the beginning of September.• However, Redmond and Manschreck acknowledged that they had not billed for or received any money for the advance planning.• Deal with advance reservations. 7.• The advance training gets the patient up and walking sooner after surgery.• Aid workers say the village had no advance warning of the floods.From Longman Business Dictionaryadvancead‧vance1 /ədˈvɑːnsədˈvæns/ adjective [only before a noun] done before an event happensA small fee is charged for this service and advance notice of at least two weeks is required.A fair-minded employer will usually give employees plenty ofadvance warning of possible redundancies.advanceadvance2 noun [countable]1an amount of money paid to someone before the usual time, or before a piece of work has been completedadvance ofWe could offer you an advance of £1,000 and the rest on satisfactory completion of the book.advance onHe had received an advance on his wages.2an increase in the amount, level, or price of somethingUK stocks have risen sharply, with further advances expected.advance inAnalysts forecast a 6% decline in Italian car sales and an 8% advance in French sales.advanceadvance3 verb1[transitive] if you advance someone money, you lend it to them or give it to them, perhaps before they have earned itPatrons advanced sums of money for building an art gallery.advance somebody somethingRandom House had advanced him the money to write a book.2[intransitive]FINANCE when the price of shares, currencies, goods etc advances, it increasesGold prices advanced slightly in early trading.Crude oil advanced $2.88 a barrel.advance againstThe dollar advanced against the yen.3[intransitive]FINANCE when profits or sales advance, they increasePre-tax profits advanced 4% to £8.4 million.First-quarter sales advanced 36%.4[intransitive]FINANCE when a company advances, its profit increasesThe company advanced 19.5%, lifting net profits to 1.25 billion rupees.→ See Verb tableOrigin advance2 (1200-1300) Old French avancier, from Vulgar Latin abantiare, from Latin abante “before” 