Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Far along in progress, development, or time: Refers to something that has progressed significantly from an earlier or simpler stage, or to a person of considerable age.
   • Highly developed or complex: Describes societies, systems, or technologies that are modern and sophisticated.
   • At a higher academic or skill level: Pertains to studies, courses, or students beyond the elementary or intermediate stages.
   • Ahead of current thinking or standards: Characterizes ideas, methods, or views that are progressive or innovative.

Usage Examples

• Describing development or progress:
  • The cancer was diagnosed at an advanced stage.
  • She is advanced in years but remains very active.
• Describing technology or society:
  • The country has a highly advanced technological infrastructure.
  • They used advanced techniques to solve the problem.
• Describing academic or skill level:
  • He is taking an advanced course in molecular biology.
  • The textbook is intended for advanced learners.
• Describing ideas or methods:
  • His views on education were quite advanced for his time.

Advanced Usage

• "Advanced in years": A formal or polite way to say someone is old.
  • The program provides care for those who are advanced in years.
• "Advanced degree": A university degree beyond a bachelor's, such as a master's or doctorate.
  • She moved abroad to pursue an advanced degree.

Variants and Related Words

• Advance (verb/noun): To move forward or make progress; a forward movement or a development.
  • Verb: The troops will advance at dawn.
  • Noun: This discovery is a major advance in medicine.
• Advancement (noun): The process of promoting a cause or making progress.
  • She dedicated her life to the advancement of science.

Synonyms

• Sophisticated: Highly developed and complex.
• Progressive: Favoring or implementing new, modern ideas.
• Higher-level: At a more complex or difficult stage.

Antonyms

• Basic: Forming an essential foundation; elementary.
• Rudimentary: Involving or limited to basic principles.
• Backward: Less developed than is normal or expected.

Related Phrases

• Advanced placement: A program offering college-level courses in high school.
  • She earned college credit through Advanced Placement exams.
• Advanced standing: Credit granted for previous study, allowing a student to skip introductory courses.
  • His transfer credits gave him advanced standing in the program.

Adjective

1. situated ahead or going before
   • an advance party
   • at that time the most advanced outpost was still east of the Rockies
2. (of societies) highly developed especially in technology or industry
   • advanced societies
   • an advanced country technologically
3. far along in time
   • a man of advanced age
   • advanced in years
   • a ripe old age
   • the ripe age of 90
4. ahead in development; complex or intricate
   • advanced technology
   • a sophisticated electronic control system
5. at a higher level in training or knowledge or skill
   • an advanced degree
   • an advanced text in physics
   • special seminars for small groups of advanced students at the University
6. ahead of the times
   • the advanced teaching methods
   • had advanced views on the subject
   • a forward-looking corporation
   • is British industry innovative enough?
7. comparatively late in a course of development
   • the illness had reached an advanced stage
   • an advanced state of exhaustion
8. farther along in physical or mental development
   • the child's skeletal age was classified as `advanced'
   • children in the advanced classes in elementary school read far above grade average