advanced

American  

[ad-vanst, -vahnst] / ædˈvænst, -ˈvɑnst /

adjective

1. placed ahead or forward.

   with one foot advanced.

2. ahead or far or further along in progress, complexity, knowledge, skill, etc..

   an advanced class in Spanish;

   to take a course in advanced mathematics;

   Our plans are too advanced to make the change now.

3. pertaining to or embodying ideas, practices, attitudes, etc., taken as being more enlightened or liberal than the standardized, established, or traditional.

   advanced theories of child care;

   the more advanced members of the artistic community.

4. far along in time.

   the advanced age of most senators.

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advanced British  

/ ədˈvɑːnst /

adjective

1. being ahead in development, knowledge, progress, etc

   advanced studies

2. having reached a comparatively late stage

   a man of advanced age

3. ahead of the times

   advanced views on religion

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Other Word Forms

• well-advanced adjective

Etymology

Origin of advanced

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; advance + -ed ²

Explanation

Use the adjective advanced to describe something that's ahead, especially in terms of growth or development. Your plans to build the world's best tree house are at an advanced stage if you're nearly ready to add a roof and invite your friends to visit. Things are advanced when they happen early or are ahead of the curve or above average. Your advanced reading ability in elementary school might have had your teachers scrambling to keep you interested, and if a scientist's cancer vaccine is at an advanced stage, it's nearly ready to be tested on people. Advanced comes from the verb advance, which comes from the Old French avancier, "move forward," from a Late Latin root word, abante, "from before."

Example Sentences

There are some ways to structure income into retirement accounts, annuities and life-insurance products that don’t count on federal financial-aid forms, and even more options for small-business owners, but all are advanced financial moves.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

The startup noted that days after Musk entered the AI race in 2023 he called for a six-month moratorium on development of advanced AI.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

Oil rose in Asia amid rising tensions related to the Strait of Hormuz, while equities in the region advanced gained tracking Wall Street’s gains on Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

During that time, I used advanced 3D imaging techniques to examine a T. rex bone and noticed structures that appeared to be blood vessels.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026

However, musically, it is quite advanced in that as you gradually silence the letter of the word B-I-N-G-O, the brain compensates for the missing pitch and rhythm using the inner ear.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• leading
• progressive
• state-of-the-art