2advance noun
plural advances 1 : forward movement [noncount] ▪ trying to halt the enemy's advance [count] ▪ trying to halt the enemy's advances 2 : progress in the development or improvement of something [count] ▪ recent advances in medicine ▪ a big/dramatic/huge/major/significant advance in technology ▪ The new system represents a considerable advance over the old one. ▪ There have been few advances made in the treatment of this disease. [noncount] ▪ There has been little advance made in the treatment of this disease. ▪ policies that are important for economic advance [=advancement] 3 [count] : a rise in price, value, or amount
▪ The workers won wage advances. ▪ a yearlong advance in stock prices 4 [count] : the act of speaking to someone in an effort to start a sexual relationship — usually plural ▪ Her unfriendly look discourages advances. ▪ She rebuffed/rejected his advances. ▪ He is accused of making unwelcome sexual advances to female coworkers. 5 [count] : money given to someone as a loan or before the usual time of payment
▪ I need an advance on my salary. ▪ He was given a $100,000 advance on/for his new book. ▪ a cash advance
▪ The workers won wage advances. ▪ a yearlong advance in stock prices
▪ I need an advance on my salary. ▪ He was given a $100,000 advance on/for his new book. ▪ a cash advance
in advance
: before something happens
▪ He knew about the change two weeks in advance. [=two weeks before the change occurred] ▪ There was no way to know in advance [=ahead of time] that these problems would occur. : before a future event or time ▪ We made reservations in advance. ▪ You should call in advance to make an appointment. ▪ Thank you in advance for your help. — often + of ▪ They began to make preparations several days in advance of [=before, ahead of] her arrival.
▪ He knew about the change two weeks in advance. [=two weeks before the change occurred] ▪ There was no way to know in advance [=ahead of time] that these problems would occur. : before a future event or time ▪ We made reservations in advance. ▪ You should call in advance to make an appointment. ▪ Thank you in advance for your help. — often + of ▪ They began to make preparations several days in advance of [=before, ahead of] her arrival.
