advance
verb (used with object)
to move or bring forward.
had advanced
-
past perfectof advance.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The 36th Brigade was a storied unit that had advanced on Kyiv in the first days of the invasion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
In 2017, the actress revealed that her cancer was in remission—however, just two years later it returned, with Doherty announcing that the disease had advanced to Stage 4.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
Captain Radko Gudas sprained his ankle in the Ducks’ playoff opener and didn’t return to the lineup, but he would have been available if Anaheim had advanced to another round.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
He had stopped taking the dopamine agonist medication immediately after discovering its effect on him and his Parkinson's symptoms had advanced.
From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2026
The next page showed a picture of a chessboard, upon which all the pieces and pawns rested in their starting positions, except for a black pawn, which had advanced two spaces.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
