advance

Compared meaning: forward movement (noun).

比较义项：前进（名词）。

• advance 本词

  Refers broadly to forward movement or progress, often a single step or overall trend; very common word, used in many fixed phrases like 'in advance'.

  泛指向前的移动或进展，常指单次的推进或整体趋势；是非常常用的词，常出现在诸如 in advance 这样的固定搭配中。

  The advance of technology has changed how we communicate with each other.

  科技的进步改变了我们彼此交流的方式。

• progression

  Emphasizes a gradual, step-by-step movement forward through stages, often over time; more formal and used for processes with a clear sequence.

  强调经过若干阶段、循序渐进地向前发展，通常需要一段时间；用词更正式，常用于有明确顺序的过程。

  The disease follows a slow progression from mild symptoms to more serious ones.

  这种疾病遵循一个缓慢的发展过程，从轻微症状逐渐发展到更严重的症状。

Advance and progression both mean forward movement. Advance often refers to progress in general, or a single step forward; it is a very common word, used in phrases like 'in advance'. Progression stresses a gradual, step-by-step movement through stages over time, and is more formal.

两个词都指“向前的移动”，但 advance 常指抽象或整体上的推进、进展，也可指提前的行动，而 progression 更强调一个循序渐进、按阶段展开的过程。这里不比较 advance 作“预付款”等其他义项。

Compared meaning: gradual improvement toward a goal (noun).

比较义项：进步，进展（名词）。

• progress

  The most general and common word, usually uncountable, for forward movement toward a goal; typically used with verbs like make or show.

  最通用、最常见的词，通常作不可数名词，常与 make、show 等动词搭配使用。

  The doctors were pleased with the progress she made after surgery.

  医生们对她手术后所取得的进步感到满意。

• advancement

  More formal; usually refers to progress in a person's career or status, or in a field or cause, rather than everyday small improvements.

  较为正式，通常指个人事业、地位方面的进步，或某一领域、事业的进步，而非日常生活中的小改善。

  The company was praised for promoting the advancement of women in engineering.

  这家公司因推动女性在工程领域的进步而受到赞扬。

• advance 本词

  Countable, often in the pattern an advance in X; highlights one specific breakthrough or improvement, especially in technology, science or knowledge.

  可数名词，常用 an advance in X 的结构，强调科技、科学或知识领域中某一具体的突破或改进。

  This new advance in battery technology could double a phone's battery life.

  电池技术方面的这一新进展可能使手机的电池续航时间翻倍。

• progression

  Emphasizes a gradual development through a series of stages or steps, often used for careers, skills, diseases or other sequences.

  强调经过一系列阶段或步骤的渐进发展，常用于描述职业、技能、疾病等发展过程。

  The book traces the natural progression from beginner to advanced skier.

  这本书描述了从初学者到高级滑雪者的自然发展过程。

Progress, advancement, advance, and progression can all mean improvement toward a goal. Progress is the most general word, usually uncountable. Advancement is more formal, usually about a career or status. Advance is countable, often 'an advance in X', naming one breakthrough. Progression means step-by-step development.

这四个词都可以表示朝着某个目标不断改善、前进的“进步/进展”，很多语境下可以互换，但在正式程度、是否可数以及常见搭配上有细微差别。这里不比较 advance 表示“预付款”或“提前，事先”（如 in advance）的其他含义，也不比较 advancement 特指“晋升”之外的引申用法。

Compared meaning: to move forward or improve (verb).

比较义项：进步，向前发展（动词）。

• progress

  Emphasizes gradual improvement or development over time, often in skills, health, or projects; typically intransitive, followed by 'in' or a gerund.

  强调随着时间推移而逐渐取得的进步或发展，常用于技能、健康或项目方面；通常用作不及物动词，后接 in 或动名词。

  She made great progress learning to play the guitar this year.

  今年她在学吉他方面取得了很大的进步。

• advance 本词

  Emphasizes forward movement or progression, often used for plans, timing, or position; common in the fixed phrase 'in advance' meaning beforehand.

  强调向前移动或推进，常用于计划、时间或位置方面；常见于固定短语 in advance，意为“提前”。

  Please book your tickets in advance for the concert.

  请提前预订音乐会的门票。

Progress and advance both mean to move forward or improve. Progress stresses gradual improvement over time, often in skills, work, or health. Advance stresses forward movement, often for plans or position, and appears in the fixed phrase 'in advance', meaning beforehand.

两词都表示“向更好或更前的方向发展”，但 progress 强调渐进的进步过程，常用于学习、工作、病情等；advance 强调向前移动或推进，也常见于固定搭配 in advance（提前）。这里不比较 advance 的其他常见搭配用法（如“提前”）以外的引申义。

Compared meaning: to raise someone or something to a higher level (verb).

比较义项：使职位、程度或状态提升到更高的层次（动词）。

• promote

  Used specifically for raising a PERSON to a higher job title or rank, usually within a company; frequently passive ('be promoted'); strongly tied to career and workplace contexts.

  专门指把某人提升到更高的职位或级别，通常用于公司内部；常用被动语态（be promoted）；与职业和职场语境紧密相关。

  After ten years of hard work, Sam was finally promoted to store manager.

  经过十年的努力，山姆终于被提升为店长。

• advance 本词

  Describes a level, price, rate or amount increasing by itself, often used intransitively; not used for a person's job title; suggests a gradual, ongoing rise rather than a single official change.

  描述程度、价格、比率或数量本身提高，常用作不及物动词；不用来表示某人职位的晋升；强调渐进、持续的上升，而非一次性的正式变动。

  Ticket prices advance sharply in the weeks before a big concert.

  在大型演唱会开始前的几周，票价会大幅上涨。

• elevate

  Used for raising an abstract quality, state or status (such as mood, status or standards) to a higher level; more formal or literary in tone; not typically used for a person's job rank.

  用于把抽象的品质、状态或地位（如情绪、地位或标准）提升到更高的水平；语气较为正式或书面化；通常不用来表示某人职位的晋升。

  Regular exercise can elevate your mood throughout the day.

  经常锻炼能提升你一整天的情绪。

Promote, advance, and elevate all mean raising something higher. Promote raises a person to a higher job title, often passive. Advance means a level, price, or rate rising by itself, not for job titles. Elevate raises an abstract quality or status, more formal.

这三个词都表示「提升」，但对象和语法不同：promote 通常指把人提升到更高的职位，常用被动语态；advance 多指程度、价格或进度等自身提高，常用作不及物动词；elevate 多指把抽象的状态（如情绪、地位）提升到更高层次，语气较正式。这里不比较 advance 表示「提前」的义项；不比较 promote 表示「宣传、推广」的义项；也不比较 elevate 表示把物体本身「抬高、垫高」的字面义。

Compared meaning: to help something develop or improve (verb).

比较义项：促进、帮助…发展、提高（动词）。

• promote

  Formal and neutral; used for helping an abstract cause, value or product become known or accepted, e.g. promoting health, education or a product — not about a sudden or measurable increase.

  语气正式、中性；用于帮助某个抽象的理念、价值观或产品被了解或接受，例如促进健康、教育或宣传产品，不强调突然或可衡量的增长。

  The teacher tries to promote good reading habits in her students.

  这位老师努力在她的学生中提倡良好的阅读习惯。

• advance 本词

  Emphasizes moving something forward to a higher or further stage, often a career, field of knowledge or process; implies progress over time rather than a quick jump.

  强调把某事物推进到更高或更远的阶段，常用于职业、某一领域的知识或某个过程；强调随时间推移取得的进展，而非快速的跃升。

  New evidence has helped advance the police investigation significantly.

  新的证据极大地推进了警方的调查。

• boost

  Informal and dynamic; means to give something a quick, noticeable increase in strength, amount or effect, typically short-term, e.g. boosting energy, morale or sales.

  语气口语化、富有活力；指使某事物的力度、数量或效果迅速、明显地提高，通常是短期的，例如提高能量、士气或销量。

  A cup of coffee in the morning can boost your energy and concentration.

  早上一杯咖啡可以提高你的精力和专注力。

Promote, advance, and boost all mean to help something improve. Promote is formal, used for an abstract cause or product becoming known. Advance means moving something forward to a further stage, like a career. Boost is informal, meaning a quick, noticeable increase, like boosting energy.

这三个词在此义项中都可表示“促进、提高、帮助发展”，但语气和搭配不同：promote 语气正式、中性，常用于抽象的理念、价值观或产品；advance 强调“把某事物推进到更高或更远的阶段”，常搭配 career、research 等；boost 语气更口语化，强调“迅速、明显地提高”，常搭配 energy、morale、sales 等具体对象。这里不比较 promote 的“提升职位”义，也不比较 advance 的“提前”义（如 in advance）。