What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Grow vs Advance - What's the difference?

grow | advance | Synonyms |

In intransitive terms the difference between grow and advance

is that grow is to appear or sprout while advance is to move forwards, to approach.

As verbs the difference between grow and advance

is that grow is to become bigger while advance is to bring forward; to move towards the front; to make to go on.

As a noun advance is

a forward move; improvement or progression.

As an adjective advance is

completed before need or a milestone event.

grow

English

Verb

  • (ergative) To become bigger.
    • Children grow quickly.
  • To appear or sprout.
    • Flowers grew on the trees as summer approached.
    A long tail began to grow from his backside.
  • To cause or allow something to become bigger, especially to cultivate plants.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=March 01 , author=Peter Roff , title=Another Foolish Move By Congress , work=Fox News citation , passage=The Bush administration – which sought to grow the number of fisheries managed under a program known as “catch shares”... }}
    He grows peppers and squash each summer in his garden.
    Have you ever grown your hair before?
  • (copulative) To assume a condition or quality over time.
    • The boy grew wise as he matured.
    The town grew smaller and smaller in the distance as we travelled.
    You have grown strong.
  • (obsolete) To become attached or fixed; to adhere.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow .

    Usage notes

    * Growed is a slang or dialect inflection for the simple past and past participle.

    Antonyms

    * shrink

    Derived terms

    * grow a pair * growed * grower * grow house * growing pains * growing point * grown-up * grow on * grow op * grow out of * growth * grow up * outgrow * overgrow

    References

    * 1000 English basic words English ergative verbs English irregular verbs

    advance

    English

    Alternative forms

    * advaunce

    Verb

    (advanc)
  • To bring forward; to move towards the front; to make to go on.
  • (obsolete) To raise; to elevate.
    • They advanced their eyelids. — Shakespeare
  • To raise to a higher rank; to promote.
  • * Bible, Esther iii. 1
    • Ahasueres advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes.
  • * Prescott
    • This, however, was in time evaded by the monarchs, who advanced certain of their own retainers to a level with the ancient peers of the land
  • To accelerate the growth or progress of; to further; to forward; to help on; to aid; to heighten.
    • to advance the ripening of fruit
    to advance one's interests
  • To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show.
    • to advance an argument
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own.
  • To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten.
  • To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due, or in aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand.
    • Merchants often advance money on a contract or on goods consigned to them.
  • To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate.
    • to advance the price of goods
  • To move forwards, to approach.
    • He rose from his chair and advanced to greet me.
  • (obsolete) To extol; to laud.
  • * Spenser
    • greatly advancing his gay chivalry

    Synonyms

    * raise, elevate, exalt, aggrandize, improve, heighten, accelerate, allege, adduce, assign

    Derived terms

    * advancement * in advance * in advance of

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A forward move; improvement or progression.
    • an advance in health or knowledge
    an advance in rank or office
  • An amount of money or credit, especially given as a loan, or paid before it is due; an advancement.
  • * Jay
    • I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances .
  • * Kent
    • The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been made.
  • An addition to the price; rise in price or value.
    • an advance on the prime cost of goods
  • (in the plural) An opening approach or overture, especially of an unwelcome or sexual nature.
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • [He] made the like advances to the dissenters.
  • * 1918 , (Edgar Rice Burroughs), , chapter 4:
    • As the sun fell, so did our spirits. I had tried to make advances to the girl again; but she would have none of me, and so I was not only thirsty but otherwise sad and downhearted.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Completed before need or a milestone event.
    • He made an advance payment on the prior shipment to show good faith.
  • Preceding.
    • The advance man came a month before the candidate.
  • Forward.
    • The scouts found a site for an advance base.

    Derived terms

    * advance person