Cool MateAccelerate vs Advance
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accelerate
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Advance
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Most common: Advance
| Accelerate | Advance | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əkˈseləreɪt/","/əkˈseləreɪts/","/əkˈseləreɪtɪd/","/əkˈseləreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əkˈseləreɪt/","/əkˈseləreɪts/","/əkˈseləreɪtɪd/","/əkˈseləreɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈvɑːns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈvæns/"]/ |
| Meaning | To go faster or make something go faster. | To move forward or make progress. |
| Example | The company aims to accelerate the development of new technologies. | She received an advance on her salary this month. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Collocations | dramatically, greatly, rapidly, hard, quickly, smoothly | 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 |
| Antonyms | decelerate, slow down | retreat, halt, decline |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'decelerate' (which means to slow down)., Using 'accelerate' without an object when it should have one., Incorrectly assuming it can only apply to vehicles. | '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'. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and casual contexts, often related to speed, processes, or improvements. Not typically used in very informal conversation. | Use 'advance' in both formal and informal contexts, often when discussing progress or improvement. Not typically used in casual conversation without context. |
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Frequently asked questions: Accelerate vs Advance
What's the difference between Accelerate and Advance?
Accelerate: To go faster or make something go faster. Advance: To move forward or make progress.
Which is more common: Accelerate and Advance?
Advance is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Accelerate and Advance?
Accelerate is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Accelerate and Advance the same CEFR level?
Accelerate: C1, Advance: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Accelerate and Advance?
Accelerate: verb, Advance: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Accelerate: The company aims to accelerate the development of new technologies. Advance: She received an advance on her salary this month.
Can I use Accelerate and Advance interchangeably?
Not always. Accelerate and Advance 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.