Advance is an English word used as both a verb and a noun. In broad terms it refers to movement or progress forward, and by extension to actions taken ahead of schedule or payment made before delivery. The term appears in everyday speech, finance, military language, publishing, and technical contexts.
Primary senses
- Verb — to move forward: to go ahead physically, to make progress, or to push a process toward completion (for example, "the troops advanced" or "technology advances").
- Noun — a payment in advance: money given before the usual time, such as a salary advance or an advance on royalties.
- Noun — an advance in a contest or campaign: a forward movement in battle, an advance into new markets, or a progression to a later round in a competition.
Common phrases include "advance payment," "advance notice," "bank advance," and "advance copy." An "advance copy" or "advance screening" is a version released to reviewers or partners before the official public release.
Origins and development
The word derives from Old French and Latin roots meaning "to come before" or "move forward." Over time its meanings expanded from physical movement to figurative senses involving timing (doing something earlier than usual) and finance (providing funds ahead of delivery).
Uses and distinctions
In finance an "advance" typically implies a short-term provision of funds that may be repaid or offset against future earnings; it differs from a grant or gift. In military or sporting contexts it denotes territorial or competitive progress. In publishing and entertainment, "advance" signals early access for promotion or review. The context usually makes the intended meaning clear.
Because "advance" covers movement, timing, and payment, it appears in many compound terms; when precision matters, writers and speakers often pair it with a clarifier (for example, "advance payment" vs. "advance notice").