Advance (noun) refers to forward movement or progress, often implying movement toward a goal or improving standing. It can also denote a payment or loan given ahead of time. In specialized contexts, it signifies an advance in research, a military movement, or a proactive step taken before others. The term carries a formal tone and is commonly found in business, military, and academic discourse.
"The company's quarterly advance toward market leadership impressed investors."
"He received an advance on his salary to cover travel expenses."
"The field hospital prepared an advance to secure the frontline position."
"Researchers announced an exciting advance in renewable energy technology."
Advance derives from the Old French avant, meaning 'before' or 'ahead', from the Latin ad- ‘toward’ and ab- ‘away’ (a prefix evolution in usage). In Middle English, advance appeared as avant, indicating forward movement or progress in military or social contexts. The word broadened in 15th–17th centuries to cover financial meanings (money paid upfront, i.e., an advance on salary) and general progress. By the 18th century, advance escalated into broader abstract notions of forward motion, tactical offensive moves, and progressive development. In modern use, advance frequently appears in business, academia, and technology, emphasizing proactive steps, funding ahead of schedule, or progress toward goals. First known uses include military advances and prepayments in merchant contracts, later expanding into abstract progress and modern corporate finance usage. Overall, advance retains a core sense of forward motion, with the noun often signaling a formal, forward-looking notion rather than casual movement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Advance" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Advance" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Advance"
-nce sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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- Pronounce it as /ədˈvæns/ in US and AU, with the main stress on the second syllable: ad-VANS. In many cases, the initial vowel reduces to a schwa. Ensure the /æ/ as in cat is clear, followed by a clean /v/ then /æ/ again? Actually, the sequence is /ə/ (unstressed) or /əd/ + /væns/: stress on 'VANS'. Mouth: start with a relaxed schwa, raise the tongue to mark /d/ quickly, then a strong /væns/ with a nasal /n/ before the final /s/. You’ll hear a crisp /v/ and an even, voiced /æ/ before /n s/.
Common errors include: 1) Misplacing the stress by saying ad- VANCE as a flat word; ensure the second syllable carries primary stress /ˈvæns/. 2) Vowel quality: using a lax /æ/ in all contexts; aim for a clear /æ/ in the stressed syllable. 3) Dropping the /d/ or slipping into a silent /d/— pronounce /d/ clearly to avoid ‘av-ance’.
In US and AU, you’ll typically hear /ədˈvæns/ with reduced initial vowel and rhotic, but the final /s/ is unvoiced. In UK, some speakers may articulate a slightly more prominent first syllable, sometimes /ˈæd.væns/ in careful speech or /ədˈvɑːns/ with a broader /æ/–/ɑː/ shift; non-rhotic tendencies might color the r-less ending. Overall, the core stress on the second syllable remains consistent, but vowel quality and rhoticity can vary.
Key challenges are: 1) Maintaining the two-syllable rhythm with the stress on the second syllable, which can feel awkward if you’re used to one-syllable words. 2) The /æ/ vowel in stressed syllable followed by /v/ and /n/ quickly can blur into /æɪ/ or /ən/. 3) The initial vowel sometimes reduces to a schwa, which can make the word sound unfamiliar if you expect a pronounced first syllable. Practicing with minimal pairs helps.
A unique nuance is the subtle linking you can use in fluent speech: when followed by a consonant-initial word (e.g., ‘advance toward’), you may lightly connect the final /s/ to the next initial consonant for a faster, natural flow, without changing the core IPA: /ədˈvæns təˈwɔrd/.
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