Advance: Moving Forward, Paying Early, and Warning Someone in Time
To advance is to move forward or to make progress. As a noun it is also money paid before it is due, and in advance means beforehand.
Advance is movement forward, literal or otherwise: troops advance, science advances, and a writer takes an advance against future royalties. As an adjective it means done ahead of time — *advance warning*, *advance booking*.
- To move forward. *The line advanced slowly.*
- To make progress. *Medicine has advanced enormously.*
- To put forward an idea. *He advanced a new theory.*
- To pay early (verb and noun). *The publisher advanced her half the fee.*
- Done beforehand (adjective). *Advance notice is required.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | advance | The army advanced at dawn. |
| Past | advanced | Talks advanced quickly. |
| Noun | advance | An advance of £2,000. |
| Adjective | advanced | Advanced mathematics. |
| Noun | advancement | Career advancement. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Book in advance to get the cheaper fare.The most common phrase by far.
- She advanced him the money until payday.Paying before it is due.
- No advance warning was given.The adjective.
- His condition is quite advanced.Far along, often medical.
Advance or advanced?
Advance is the one that means beforehand — *advance booking*, *advance copy*. Advanced means highly developed or far along — *advanced course*, *advanced stage*. Writing *advanced booking* is the single most common slip with this word.
What is an advance in publishing?
Money paid to an author before publication, set against future royalties. The author keeps it whether or not the book earns out.
Is in advance of the same as before?
Yes, but more formal. *In advance of the meeting* and *before the meeting* mean the same thing.