advances
C1formal
Definition
Meaning
Forward movements or progress; steps taken towards a goal.
Financial loans or payments made before goods are delivered or services are performed; amorous or romantic approaches or overtures.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, 'advances' primarily refers to (1) forward movement/progress, (2) upfront payments/credit, (3) romantic overtures. It is almost always plural in these senses. It can also be the third-person singular present tense of the verb 'to advance'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The plural noun 'advances' is used similarly in both varieties. The verb form ('he advances') shows no significant difference. Spelling differences follow standard patterns (e.g., 'colour advance' vs. 'color advance' in compounds).
Connotations
Slight connotational difference: In a financial context, 'an advance' (singular) is slightly more common in UK English for a payment, while 'advances' (plural) might be more associated with romantic contexts in informal US English.
Frequency
The noun plural is more frequent than the verb form in general corpora. Financial and romantic senses are equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + advances (make, reject, welcome)ADJ + advances (technological, medical, unwanted)advances + PREP (in, on, towards)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “make advances (to/towards someone)”
- “be advances of something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to upfront payments, prepayments, or lines of credit extended to suppliers or employees.
Academic
Refers to progress, discoveries, or developments in a field of study (e.g., 'recent advances in biotechnology').
Everyday
Most commonly refers to technological progress or, informally, romantic or sexual propositions.
Technical
In military context, refers to forward movements of troops. In finance, refers to disbursements of funds.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He advances steadily through the ranks.
- The research advances our understanding.
American English
- She advances the theory in her new book.
- The team advances to the finals.
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable - 'advance' is not used as a standard adverb. 'In advance' is the adverbial phrase.)
American English
- (Not applicable - 'advance' is not used as a standard adverb. 'In advance' is the adverbial phrase.)
adjective
British English
- Advance booking is recommended.
- They gave us advance notice of the change.
American English
- Please submit an advance copy.
- We received advance warning.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The car moves advances slowly.
- She got her money in advance.
- Technological advances make life easier.
- He made advances to her, but she wasn't interested.
- Recent advances in renewable energy are promising.
- The company required a significant cash advance before starting the project.
- The rapid advances in artificial intelligence pose both opportunities and ethical dilemmas.
- His persistent amorous advances were deemed inappropriate in the workplace.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ADVANCES' as 'ADVANCE-Steps' – steps forward, whether in science, money, or romance.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION (e.g., 'The advances in medicine saved lives'). LOVE/SEX IS A TERRITORY TO BE APPROACHED (e.g., 'He made unwanted advances').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'аванс' (advance payment) which is only one specific sense. The plural 'advances' often corresponds to 'достижения' (achievements) or 'прогресс'. For romantic sense, it's 'ухаживания' or 'знаки внимания'. Avoid literal translation of 'make advances' as 'делать авансы'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'advance' (singular) for the plural senses of progress or propositions (e.g., 'He made an advance' vs. 'He made advances'). Confusing 'advances in technology' with 'advance technology' (the latter is an adjective+noun).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'advances' used in a financial sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. As a noun referring to progress, payments, or propositions, it is typically plural ('technological advances', 'cash advances'). It can also be the third-person singular present tense of the verb 'to advance' ('he advances').
'An advance' (singular) often refers to a single upfront payment or a single step forward. 'Advances' (plural) refers to multiple steps of progress, multiple payments, or repeated romantic overtures.
Yes, especially in the context of 'unwanted advances', which implies inappropriate romantic or sexual propositions. In other contexts, it is generally positive (e.g., technological advances).
No. You can 'make advances' in many fields (e.g., 'make advances in diplomacy'). However, without a specified field ('make advances towards someone'), it is commonly interpreted as romantic.