Advance vs. Prepone — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 3, 2024
Advance is moving something to an earlier time or stage, often with planning involved, while prepone, mainly used in Indian English, specifically means to reschedule an event to an earlier time.
Difference Between Advance and Prepone
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Advance refers to the action of moving something forward in time or progress, often implying a forward movement or progression in various contexts, such as advancing a meeting date or advancing in a career. On the other hand, prepone is a term primarily used in Indian English to describe the specific action of moving an event or scheduled activity to an earlier date or time than originally planned, without the broader implications of progress or development.
While advance can be used in a broad range of contexts, including but not limited to scheduling, and carries connotations of progression, improvement, or moving forward in a general sense, prepone is used almost exclusively in the context of scheduling and does not imply progression beyond the change in timing.
Advance also encompasses a wider variety of applications, from the advancement of technology or science to the advancement of a meeting or deadline, suggesting a forward movement or improvement. Prepone, however, strictly relates to the timing of an event, lacking the nuanced implications of development or progress inherent in the term advance.
In professional settings, using advance to indicate a change in scheduling may be understood globally, reflecting a decision to move a meeting, deadline, or event forward. Conversely, using prepone might be clear and immediately understood in regions familiar with Indian English but could require explanation in others, due to its specific usage and regional popularity.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Moving something forward in time or progress
Rescheduling an event to an earlier time
ADVERTISEMENT
Usage Context
Broad, including scheduling, technology, career
Primarily scheduling, mainly in Indian English
Connotations
Progress, improvement, forward movement
Specifically making an event earlier, without broader implications
Global Understanding
Widely understood, with context-dependent meaning
Understood in regions familiar with Indian English
Specificity
General, can imply various types of advancement
Specific to the action of making scheduled events earlier
Compare with Definitions
Advance
Forward Movement.
Advancing technology contributes to societal progress.
Prepone
Clear in Context.
To avoid clashing with the holiday, the event was preponed.
Advance
General Improvement.
Advancing public health measures can save lives.
Prepone
Indian English Usage.
The wedding date was preponed due to venue availability.
Advance
Career Progression.
She advanced quickly in her career due to her hard work.
Prepone
Scheduling Specific.
Can we prepone the conference to next week?
Advance
Scheduling Context.
We decided to advance our meeting to accommodate the schedule.
Prepone
No Need for Extra Context.
The meeting was preponed without affecting other schedules.
Advance
Broad Applications.
The company plans to advance its product launch to gain market advantage.
Prepone
Lacks Broader Implications.
Preponing the deadline helped us meet the client's new requirements.
Advance
Move forwards in a purposeful way
The troops advanced on the capital
He advanced towards the dispatch box
Prepone
To reschedule to a time earlier than the current scheduled time.
Advance
Make or cause to make progress
Our knowledge is advancing all the time
It was a chance to advance his own interests
Advance
Put forward (a theory or suggestion)
The hypothesis I wish to advance in this article
Advance
Lend (money) to (someone)
The building society advanced them a loan
Advance
A forward movement
The rebels' advance on Madrid was well under way
The advance of civilization
Advance
A development or improvement
Decades of great scientific advance
Advances in engineering techniques
Advance
An amount of money paid before it is due or for work only partly completed
The author was paid a £250,000 advance
Advance
Done, sent, or supplied beforehand
Advance notice
Advance warning
Advance payment
Advance
To cause to move forward
Advance a chess piece.
Advance
To put forward; propose or suggest
Advanced a novel theory during the seminar.
Advance
To aid the growth or progress of
Advanced the cause of freedom.
Advance
To raise in rank; promote.
Advance
To cause to occur sooner
Advance a deadline by one week.
Advance
To raise in amount or rate; increase.
Advance
To pay (money or interest) before due.
Advance
To supply or lend, especially on credit.
Advance
To serve as an advance person for (a trip to be made by a politician or a dignitary)
"advanced the China trip during which the first trade agreements ... were signed" (Suzanne Perney).
Advance
(Archaic) To lift.
Advance
To go or move forward or onward.
Advance
To move against another, as when attacking
Advance on the enemy's position.
Advance
To make progress; improve.
Advance
To rise in rank, position, or value.
Advance
To serve as an advance person for a trip to be made by a politician or a dignitary.
Advance
The act or process of moving or going forward.
Advance
A forward move, as toward an objective; a progressive step
An advance in genetic engineering.
Advance
An increase of price or value.
Advance
Advances Opening approaches made to secure acquaintance, favor, or an agreement; overtures.
Advance
The furnishing of funds or goods on credit.
Advance
The funds or goods so furnished; a loan.
Advance
Payment of money before due
An advance on next month's salary.
Advance
The money so paid.
Advance
Preparation, especially publicity, done prior to the appearance of a public figure or the staging of a public event.
Advance
Made or given ahead of time
An advance payment.
Advance
Going before, in front, or forward.
Advance
To promote or advantage.
Advance
To help the progress of (something); to further.
Advance
To raise (someone) in rank or office; to prefer, to promote.
Advance
To move forward in space or time.
Advance
To move or push (something) forwards, especially forcefully.
Advance
To make (something) happen at an earlier time or date; to bring forward, to hasten.
Advance
(intransitive) To move forwards; to approach.
Advance
To provide (money or other value) before it is due, or in expectation of some work; to lend.
Advance
To put forward (an idea, argument etc.); to propose.
Advance
(intransitive) To make progress; to do well, to succeed.
Advance
(intransitive) To move forward in time; to progress towards completion.
Advance
To raise, be raised.
Advance
To raise; to lift or elevate.
Advance
To raise or increase (a price, rate).
Advance
To increase (a number or amount).
Advance
(intransitive) To make a higher bid at an auction.
Advance
A forward move; improvement or progression.
An advance in health or knowledge
An advance in rank or office
Advance
An amount of money or credit, especially given as a loan, or paid before it is due; an advancement.
Advance
An addition to the price; rise in price or value.
An advance on the prime cost of goods
Advance
Completed before necessary or a milestone event.
He made an advance payment on the prior shipment to show good faith.
Advance
Preceding.
The advance man came a month before the candidate.
Advance
Forward.
The scouts found a site for an advance base.
Advance
To bring forward; to move towards the van or front; to make to go on.
Advance
To raise; to elevate.
They . . . advanced their eyelids.
Advance
To raise to a higher rank; to promote.
Ahasueres . . . advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes.
Advance
To accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward; to help on; to aid; to heighten; as, to advance the ripening of fruit; to advance one's interests.
Advance
To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show; as, to advance an argument.
Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own.
Advance
To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten.
Advance
To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due, or in aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand; as, a merchant advances money on a contract or on goods consigned to him.
Advance
To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate; as, to advance the price of goods.
Advance
To extol; to laud.
Greatly advancing his gay chivalry.
Advance
To move or go forward; to proceed; as, he advanced to greet me.
Advance
To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to advance in knowledge, in stature, in years, in price.
Advance
To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred or promoted.
Advanced to a level with ancient peers.
Advance
The act of advancing or moving forward or upward; progress.
Advance
Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or religion; an advance in rank or office.
Advance
An addition to the price; rise in price or value; as, an advance on the prime cost of goods.
Advance
The first step towards the attainment of a result; approach made to gain favor, to form an acquaintance, to adjust a difference, etc.; an overture; a tender; an offer; - usually in the plural.
[He] made the like advances to the dissenters.
Advance
A furnishing of something before an equivalent is received (as money or goods), towards a capital or stock, or on loan; payment beforehand; the money or goods thus furnished; money or value supplied beforehand.
I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances.
The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been made.
Advance
Before in place, or beforehand in time; - used for advanced; as, an advance guard, or that before the main guard or body of an army; advance payment, or that made before it is due; advance proofs, advance sheets, pages of a forthcoming volume, received in advance of the time of publication.
Advance
A movement forward;
He listened for the progress of the troops
Advance
A change for the better; progress in development
Advance
A tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others;
She rejected his advances
Advance
The act of moving forward toward a goal
Advance
An amount paid before it is earned
Advance
Increase in price or value;
The news caused a general advance on the stock market
Advance
Move forward, also in the metaphorical sense;
Time marches on
Advance
Bring forward for consideration or acceptance;
Advance an argument
Advance
Increase or raise;
Boost the voltage in an electrical circuit
Advance
Contribute to the progress or growth of;
I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom
Advance
Cause to move forward;
Can you move the car seat forward?
Advance
Obtain advantages, such as points, etc.;
The home team was gaining ground
After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference
Advance
Develop in a positive way;
He progressed well in school
My plants are coming along
Plans are shaping up
Advance
Develop further;
We are advancing technology every day
Advance
Give a promotion to or assign to a higher position;
John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired
Women tend not to advance in the major law firms
I got promoted after many years of hard work
Advance
Pay in advance;
Can you advance me some money?
Advance
Move forward;
We have to advance clocks and watches when we travel eastward
Advance
Rise in rate or price;
The stock market gained 24 points today
Advance
Being ahead of time or need;
Gave advance warning
Was beforehand with her report
Advance
Situated ahead or going before;
An advance party
At that time the most advanced outpost was still east of the Rockies
Common Curiosities
What is prepone?
Prepone is a term used to describe moving an event to an earlier time.
What does advance mean?
Advance means to move something forward in time or to make progress.
In which contexts is advance used?
Advance is used in broad contexts, from scheduling to technological progression.
Does prepone imply progression?
No, prepone specifically refers to changing the time of an event, without broader implications.
Is advance understood globally?
Yes, but its specific meaning can depend on the context in which it's used.
Might using prepone require explanation outside India?
Yes, as its use is regional and may not be familiar to those outside Indian English contexts.
Can advance imply improvements?
Yes, advance often carries connotations of improvement or progression.
Where is prepone commonly used?
Prepone is primarily used in Indian English for scheduling contexts.
Can advance and prepone be used interchangeably?
In the context of scheduling, they might convey similar actions, but their connotations and regional usage differ.
Is it correct to use prepone in formal communication?
While correct in regions where Indian English is used, it's advisable to use globally understood terms in formal international communication.
Can advance be used in a non-scheduling context?
Yes, advance can refer to progress or development in areas beyond scheduling, like technology or career growth.
How do I convey the meaning of prepone in areas unfamiliar with the term?
Use phrases like "move up the date" or "reschedule to an earlier time" for clarity.
Why is it important to know the difference between advance and prepone?
Understanding the difference enhances clear communication and ensures that scheduling intentions are correctly interpreted across different English-speaking regions.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Ampule vs. Ampoule
Next Comparison
Query vs. QuestionAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
