Advanced means having progressed far beyond the basics or being ahead of what's typical. When you take an advanced math class, you're studying material that most students your age haven't reached yet. An advanced chess player has mastered strategies that beginners are still learning.

The word describes both skills and things. A scientist might use advanced equipment: tools with capabilities that go far beyond simple microscopes or calculators. A gymnast working on advanced moves is attempting flips and holds that require years of training. In video games, advanced levels challenge players who've already conquered the early stages.

Something advanced represents a significant leap forward, a substantial increase in difficulty or sophistication. Advanced technology, like smartphones or space telescopes, can do things that seemed impossible with older tools. When a reader tackles advanced vocabulary, they're working with sophisticated words that carry precise, nuanced meanings.

You can also use advanced to mean having moved forward in time or space. Storm warnings might mention the storm's advanced position, showing how far it has traveled. When someone is in their advanced years, they've progressed far along in life.

Being ready for advanced work usually means you've built a strong foundation first. Students don't jump straight into advanced calculus without learning basic arithmetic, algebra, and geometry along the way.