Cool MateAdvance vs Move on
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Advance
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Move on
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Advance
| Advance | Move on | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈvɑːns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈvæns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //muːv ɒn//🇺🇸 //muːv ɑn// |
| Meaning | To move forward or make progress. | To start doing something new after something else has ended. |
| Example | She received an advance on her salary this month. | After the breakup, it took her a while to move on. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | big, considerable, dramatic, make, advance in, advance on, advance towards/toward, rapid, Allied, British, make, order, halt, advance on, advance to, advance towards/toward, large, cash, give, pay, get, advance of, advance on, amorous, sexual, make, advance to | move on from the past, move on to bigger things, move on in life, move on after loss, move on quickly |
| Antonyms | retreat, halt, decline | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Advance' is sometimes confused with 'advancement', which means progress in a job or career., Learners may misuse 'advance' when they mean 'wait' instead of moving forward., Some may think 'advance' only applies to physical movement, excluding abstract uses like 'advancing knowledge'. | Confused with 'move out', which means to leave a place., Using 'move on' without a context of change., Incorrect verb tense (e.g., saying 'moved on to' instead of 'move on to'). |
| Usage notes | Use 'advance' in both formal and informal contexts, often when discussing progress or improvement. Not typically used in casual conversation without context. | Used when transitioning from one phase or idea to another. Common in conversations about change, but less formal in professional settings. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Advance vs Move on
What's the difference between Advance and Move on?
Advance: To move forward or make progress. Move on: To start doing something new after something else has ended.
Which is more common: Advance and Move on?
Advance is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Advance: She received an advance on her salary this month. Move on: After the breakup, it took her a while to move on.
Can I use Advance and Move on interchangeably?
Not always. Advance and Move on are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.