avanzare

Avanzare is an Italian verb with several related senses centered on forward movement and progression. The primary intransitive sense is to move or progress forward, as in l’esercito avanza (the army is advancing) or la ricerca avanza (the research is progressing). It can also be transitive, meaning to bring forward, present, or propose something, for example avanzare una proposta or avanzare una tesi. In financial contexts, it may mean to lend or provide funds temporarily, i.e., avanzare denaro or avanzare un pagamento.

Etymology and cognates: The verb derives from a Romance root meaning forward, connected to the adjective avanti and to cognates such as Spanish avanzar and French avancer. It is formed with the -are infinitive suffix and shares a common lineage with other Romance verbs describing movement and progression.

Conjugation and usage notes: Avanzare is a regular -are verb. Present indicative forms are avanzo, avanzi, avanza, avanziamo, avanzate, avanzano. Other common tenses include avanzavo (imperfect), ho avanzato (passato prossimo), avanzando (gerund), and avanzato (past participle). The imperative is usa quando: avanza (tu), avanziamo (noi), avanzate (voi). The present subjunctive is avanzi, avanzi, avanzi, avanziamo, avanziate, avanzino. In everyday speech, the phrase andare avanti is often used to mean “to go on” or “to proceed,” while avanzare tends to appear in more formal or technical contexts.

See also: avanzamento (progression/advancement), avanzo (in some contexts the noun form for an advance), progredire, procedere.