advantage

[ ad-van-tij, -vahn- ]

noun

1. any state, circumstance, opportunity, or means specially favorable to success, interest, or any desired end:

   the advantage of a good education.

2. benefit; gain; profit:

   It will be to his advantage to learn Chinese before going to China.

3. superiority or ascendancy (often followed by over or of ):

   His height gave him an advantage over his opponent.

4. a position of superiority (often followed by over or of ):

   their advantage in experienced players.

5. Tennis. the first point scored after deuce.

verb (used with object)

, ad·van·taged, ad·van·taging.

1. to be of service to; yield profit or gain to; benefit.

   Synonyms: aid, help, avail, serve

2. to cause to advance; further; promote:

   Such action will advantage our cause.

3. to prove beneficial to; profit:

   It would advantage him to work harder.

advantage

/ ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ /

noun

1. often foll byover or of superior or more favourable position or power

   he had an advantage over me because of his experience

2. benefit or profit (esp in the phrase to one's advantage )
3. tennis
   1. the point scored after deuce
   2. the resulting state of the score
4. take advantage of
   1. to make good use of
   2. to impose upon the weakness, good nature, etc, of; abuse
   3. to seduce
5. to advantage
   to good effect

   he used his height to advantage at the game

6. you have the advantage of me
   you know me but I do not know you

Word History and Origins

Origin of advantage¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ava(u)ntage, from Anglo-French, Old French avantage, equivalent to avant “before” + -age noun suffix; advance, -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of advantage¹

C14: avantage (later altered to advantage on the model of words beginning with Latin ad- ), from Old French avant before, from Latin abante from before, away. See advance

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have the advantage of, to be in a superior or advantageous position; possess an advantage over:

   By virtue of independent wealth, he has the advantage of his opponents.

2. take advantage of,
   1. to make use of for gain:

      to take advantage of an opportunity.

   2. to impose upon, especially unfairly, as by exploiting a weakness:

      to take advantage of someone.

3. to advantage, to good effect; advantageously:

   The paintings were arranged to advantage on one wall.

More idioms and phrases containing advantage

see get the advantage of ; show to advantage ; take advantage of ; to advantage .

Example Sentences

The ruling is the result of an investigation which the Commission opened in 2021, after Meta's rivals complained that Facebook Marketplace gave it an unfair advantage.

From BBC

“In the attention economy … anything that gives you an advantage in terms of differentiating yourself,” Perren said.

From Los Angeles Times

The Texans take advantage of their in-state rivals.

From Los Angeles Times

They are easily distracted and taken advantage of.

From Salon

Trump's power advantage could be key in pushing through his big promises such as the largest deportation of migrants in history, sweeping tariffs on foreign imports, and the rolling back of environmental protections.

From BBC

Related Words

• benefit
• edge
• favor
• gain
• interest
• leverage
• position
• power
• preference
• profit
• protection
• recognition
• return
• superiority
• support
• upper hand