advancing
advancing — verb
1. to go farther ahead, or to push something into a more forward place
to go farther ahead, or to push something into a more forward place
Valentina kept advancing toward the stage even as security shouted for everyone to stop.
intransitive: advance toward a place
The rescue boat is advancing through the fog at a careful, steady speed.
Engineers are advancing the tunnel machine by three meters each night.
With shields raised, the front line kept advancing across the wet field.
- proceed
often sounds slightly more formal and less forceful
- move up
more informal and often used for short physical movement
- push forward
stresses active effort to move something ahead
文法句型
advance toward + place
advance + object/process
用法筆記
This sense can be intransitive for people or groups moving ahead, or transitive when someone causes an object or process to move forward.
2. to get farther along in work or development, or to help something grow better or
to get farther along in work or development, or to help something grow better or faster
The vaccine trial is advancing more quickly now that three hospitals joined.
intransitive: advance quickly
Minho is advancing in his piano studies after months of daily practice.
Better drainage is advancing the farmers' plan to grow winter vegetables.
The talks were advancing until a dispute over land rights surfaced.
文法句型
advance in + area
advance + plan/project
用法筆記
Use this sense for progress toward a goal or for actions that help a project, skill, or discussion move ahead. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about physical position.
3. to become more important or successful, or to move someone into a higher job or
to become more important or successful, or to move someone into a higher job or status
After two strong seasons, Quan is advancing from assistant coach to head coach.
advance from ... to ...
The company is advancing two junior designers into leadership roles this summer.
transitive: advance someone into a role
Mayumi kept advancing in the embassy until she managed the trade office.
Young researchers are rarely advancing this quickly without strong guidance.
文法句型
advance to + role
advance + someone + into/to + role
用法筆記
This sense often appears with roles, titles, or status. Distinguish it from sense 2, which is about a task or process moving ahead rather than a person moving up.
4. to present an idea, plan, or explanation so other people can discuss or accept i
to present an idea, plan, or explanation so other people can discuss or accept it
The mayor is advancing a new plan for cheaper city buses.
formal: advance a plan
During the hearing, David was advancing a different explanation for the factory fire.
The union is advancing several safety demands before the contract vote.
Scientists are advancing the theory that the birds follow heat from the coast.
- propose
the closest everyday word for offering an idea
- put forward
slightly less formal and common in speech
- suggest
lighter and less formal than advance
- withdraw
means take an idea or proposal back
文法句型
advance + plan/idea/theory
advance + argument/explanation
用法筆記
This is a formal discussion sense. It is common in meetings, writing, and public debate when someone puts forward an argument or proposal.
5. to change the planned time of something so it happens sooner
to change the planned time of something so it happens sooner
The clinic is advancing my checkup because the doctor will travel next week.
advance an appointment
Storm warnings are advancing the ferry's last departure by forty minutes.
advance something by + amount
The network is advancing the interview to Friday morning after a schedule conflict.
Because the hall was free, the school is advancing graduation by one day.
- move up
the most common everyday phrasing for an earlier time
- bring forward
common in British and formal scheduling contexts
- reschedule
broader because it can also mean moving something later
文法句型
advance + event + by + amount
advance + event + to + time
用法筆記
Use this sense only for time or dates. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about moving something in space rather than on a schedule.
6. to become greater, or to make something greater, especially in price, rate, or a
to become greater, or to make something greater, especially in price, rate, or amount
Local rents are advancing again near the new train station.
intransitive: prices advance
The bank is advancing its service fee from July onward.
transitive: advance a fee
Wheat prices kept advancing after the dry spring hurt the harvest.
Hospital costs are advancing faster than most families can plan for.
文法句型
advance in price
advance + fee/rate/price
用法筆記
This sense is especially common for money, rates, totals, and other measurable amounts. Distinguish it from sense 2, which is about general progress rather than a number becoming higher.
7. to give money, goods, or help before the usual time, expecting it to be settled
to give money, goods, or help before the usual time, expecting it to be settled later
The publisher is advancing Elise half the fee before the book tour begins.
advance someone an amount
The supplier is advancing extra wood so the builders can finish on time.
advance goods before delivery
Our aunt is advancing us train money until payday arrives on Friday.
The lab is advancing equipment to the field team until the grant comes through.
文法句型
advance + person + amount
advance + money/goods
用法筆記
This sense is about giving money or supplies ahead of the usual date. It often appears when the giver expects repayment, later settlement, or reimbursement.
advancing — noun
1. movement that carries someone or something farther ahead
movement that carries someone or something farther ahead
The advancing of the rescue trucks slowed when the bridge began to shake.
noun pattern: the advancing of
Heavy rain did not stop the army's advancing across the valley at dawn.
Workers watched the advancing of the parade barriers from both sidewalks.
The advancing of the fire line forced the campers to leave early.
- advance
the usual noun for forward movement and much more common
- progression
more formal and often used for orderly movement or stages
- retreat
movement back from a place or opponent
文法句型
the advancing of + group/object
用法筆記
This noun use is formal and is most natural in the pattern 'the advancing of ...' when describing literal movement ahead.
2. progress toward a better or more complete state
progress toward a better or more complete state
The steady advancing of medical imaging has saved patients from riskier surgery.
formal noun for technical progress
Teachers welcomed the advancing of reading skills across the whole class.
The museum's digital project owes its rapid advancing to local volunteers.
Investors noticed the advancing of battery technology long before prices fell.
- progress
far more common in everyday English for movement toward a goal
- development
stresses change and growth over time
- stagnation
a state with no forward development
文法句型
the advancing of + field/skill
用法筆記
This formal noun focuses on progress in development. Distinguish it from noun sense 1, which is about physical movement rather than improvement.
3. a change that drives a price, value, or total higher
a change that drives a price, value, or total higher
The advancing of coffee prices forced the cafe to print new menus.
the advancing of + prices
The report blamed the advancing of fuel costs on a shortage of ships.
Families felt the advancing of grocery bills almost immediately.
Traders expected further advancing of copper prices by autumn.
- decline
an opposite movement downward in value or amount
文法句型
the advancing of + prices/costs
用法筆記
This is a formal financial or business noun, usually used for prices, costs, rates, and similar numbers that move upward.
4. the act of giving money or goods before they are needed or paid back, or what is
the act of giving money or goods before they are needed or paid back, or what is given that way
The publisher's advancing of half the fee paid for Eli's train tickets.
the advancing of + money
Without the landlord's advancing of repair money, the shop could not buy paint.
The bank's advancing of seed supplies let the farmers plant before storm season.
We thanked the charity for its advancing of food boxes before winter began.
- advance
the usual noun for money or goods given ahead of time
- prepayment
focuses more on money paid before the due date
- payment
neutral term without the idea of being early
文法句型
the advancing of + money/goods
用法筆記
This formal noun is tied to money or supplies given before the normal time. Distinguish it from verb sense 7, which describes the action directly.
advancing — adjective
1. describing someone as becoming old, often in a polite way
describing someone as becoming old, often in a polite way
Her advancing age made the steep temple stairs harder to climb.
fixed phrase: advancing age
Doctors adjusted the runner's training plan because of his advancing age.
The actor joked about his advancing age when he forgot the dance steps.
Even with her advancing age, the gardener still carries water every morning.
- young
the broad opposite in age
文法句型
advancing age
用法筆記
This adjective is most common in the phrase 'advancing age' and sounds more polite than simply saying that someone is old.