ADV'ANCE, v.t. adv'ans. [Heb. surface, face; whence.]

1. A moving forward, or towards the front. – Clarendon.
2. Gradual progression; improvement; as, an advance in religion or knowledge. – Atterbury.
3. Advancement; promotion; preferment; as, an advance in rank or office.
4. First hint by way of invitation; first step towards an agreement; as, A made an advance towards a reconciliation with B. In this sense it is very frequently used in the plural. The amours of an empress require the plainest advances. – Gibbon.
5. In trade, additional price; profit; as, an advance on the prime cost of goods.
6. A giving beforehand; a furnishing of something, on contract, before an equivalent is received, as money or goods, towards a capital or stock, or on loan; or the money or goods thus furnished; as, A made large advances to B.
7. A furnishing of money or goods for others, in expectation of reimbursement; or the property so furnished. I shall, with great pleasure, make the necessary advances. – Jay. The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been made. – Kent. In advance, in front; before; also beforehand; before an equivalent is received, or when one partner in trade has furnished more than his proportion; as, A is in advance to B a thousand dollars or pounds.

1. To move or go forward; to proceed; as, the troops advanced.
2. To improve, or make progress; to grow better, greater, wiser or older; as, to advance in knowledge, in stature, in wisdom, or in years.
3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred, or promoted; as, to advance in political standing.

1. To bring forward; to move further in front. Hence,
2. To promote; to raise to a higher rank; as, to advance one from the bar to the bench.
3. To improve or make better, which is considered as a progression or moving forward; as, to advance one's true interests.
4. To forward; to accelerate growth; as, to advance the growth of plants.
5. To offer or propose; to bring to view or notice; as, to advance an opinion or an argument.
6. In commerce, to supply beforehand; to furnish on credit, or before goods are delivered, or work done; or to furnish as a part of a stock or fund; as, to advance money on loan or contract, or towards a purchase or establishment.
7. To furnish for others; to supply or pay for others, in expectation of reimbursement. They advanced the money out of their own funds, and took the sherif's deeds in their own name. Kent, Johnson's Rep.
8. To raise; to enhance; as, to advance the price of goods.

1. To bring forward; to move towards the van or front; to make to go on.
2. To move or go forward; to proceed; as, he advanced to greet me.
3. The act of advancing or moving forward or upward; progress.
4. Before in place, or beforehand in time; -- used for advanced; as, an advance guard, or that before the main guard or body of an army; advance payment, or that made before it is due; advance proofs, advance sheets, pages of a forthcoming volume, received in advance of the time of publication.
5. To raise; to elevate.
   
   
   [Archaic]

   They . . . advanced their eyelids.
   Shak.

6. To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to advance in knowledge, in stature, in years, in price.
7. Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or religion; an advance in rank or office.
8. To raise to a higher rank; to promote.
   
   

   Ahasueres . . . advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes.
   Esther iii. 1.

9. To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred or promoted.
   
   

   Advanced to a level with ancient peers.
   Prescott.

10. An addition to the price; rise in price or value; as, an advance on the prime cost of goods.
11. To accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward; to help on; to aid; to heighten; as, to advance the ripening of fruit; to advance one's interests.
12. The first step towards the attainment of a result; approach made to gain favor, to form an acquaintance, to adjust a difference, etc.; an overture; a tender; an offer; -- usually in the plural.
    
    

    [He] made the like advances to the dissenters.
    Swift.

13. To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show; as, to advance an argument.
    
    

    Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own.
    Pope.

14. A furnishing of something before an equivalent is received (as money or goods), towards a capital or stock, or on loan; payment beforehand; the money or goods thus furnished; money or value supplied beforehand.
    
    

    I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances.
    Jay.

    The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been made.
    Kent.

    In advance (a) In front; before. (b) Beforehand; before an equivalent is received. (c) In the state of having advanced money on account; as, A is in advance to B a thousand dollars or pounds.

15. To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten.
16. To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due, or in aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand; as, a merchant advances money on a contract or on goods consigned to him.
17. To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate; as, to advance the price of goods.
18. To extol; to laud.
    
    
    [Obs.]

    Greatly advancing his gay chivalry.
    Spenser.

    Syn. -- To raise; elevate; exalt; aggrandize; improve; heighten; accelerate; allege; adduce; assign.