- [countable, uncountable] progress or a development in a particular activity or area of understanding
- We live in an age of rapid technological advance.
- advance in something Recent advances in technology have made the procedure safe.
- recent advances in medical science
- major advances in the field of physics
- advance on something an advance on the existing techniques
- advance towards something an advance towards a better understanding of God
Extra ExamplesTopics Successb2- Hindu science made great advances in astronomy and mathematics.
- Recent years have seen significant advances in our understanding of the human genome.
- The design incorporates the most recent technological advances.
- We need more money if we are to make any further advances in this area of science.
- rapid advances in science and technology
- two major advances in orthopaedic medicine
- At this time there were a number of major advances in the field of physics.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- considerable
- dramatic
- …
- make
- advance in
- advance on
- advance towards/toward
- …
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- [countable] advance (on something) the forward movement of a group of people, especially armed forces
- We feared that an advance on the capital would soon follow.
- enemy advances
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a war- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
- accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictb2- The general ordered an advance to the front line.
- The regiment made an advance on the enemy lines.
- the Russian advance towards Berlin
- Enemy advances had forced them to retreat into the mountains.
- Their advance on the city seemed unstoppable.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- rapid
- Allied
- British
- …
- make
- order
- halt
- …
- advance on
- advance to
- advance towards/toward
- …
- [countable, usually singular] money paid for work before it has been done or money paid earlier than expected
- They offered an advance of £5 000 after the signing of the contract.
- The bank will give you an advance of 95% of the purchase price.
- advance on something She asked for an advance on her salary.
Extra Examples- The publishers have paid me an advance.
- He was paid £5 000 as an advance on royalties.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- large
- cash
- give
- pay
- get
- …
- advance of
- advance on
- advances[plural] attempts to start a sexual relationship with somebody
- He had made advances to one of his students.
- She rejected his sexual advances.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- amorous
- sexual
- make
- advance to
- [countable] advance (on something) (business) an increase in the price or value of something
- Share prices showed significant advances.
development
forward movement
money
sexual
price increase
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French avance (noun), avancer (verb), from late Latin abante ‘in front’, from ab ‘from’ + ante ‘before’. The initial a- was mistakenly assimilated to ad- in the 16th cent.
Idioms
See advance in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee advance in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishin advance (of something)
- before the time that is expected; before something happens
- a week/month/year in advance
- The rent is due one month in advance.
- Thanks in advance for your help.
- We try to plan well in advance.
- It would have helped to know in advance that you were coming.
- (formal) The fee is payable in advance.
- (formal) People were evacuated from the coastal regions in advance of the hurricane.
Extra Examples- It's cheaper if you book the tickets in advance.
- You'll get the agenda in advance of the committee meeting.
- more developed than somebody/something else
- Galileo's ideas were well in advance of the age in which he lived.
Check pronunciation:
advance