to advantage

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ad•van•tage /ædˈvæntɪdʒ/   n., v., -taged, -taging. 
n. 

1. circumstance, opportunity, etc., that is very favorable to success:
   [countable] the advantages of a good education.
2. [uncountable] benefit; gain;
   profit:
   It will be to your advantage to study Chinese.
3. a position of superiority or ascendancy:
   [countable] Knowledge of foreign policy gave the candidate an advantage.

v. [~ + object]

4. to benefit:
   How will this advantage you at work?

Idioms

5. Idioms take advantage of, [ ~ + obj]
   • to make use of for gain: to take advantage of an opportunity.
   • to impose upon, esp. unfairly, as by exploiting a weakness:
     You took unfair advantage of our friendship.
6. Idioms to advantage, in such a way as to have beneficial effects:
   The lighting showed off the room to advantage.

ad•van•ta•geous /ˌædvənˈteɪdʒəs/  adj. 
ad•van•ta•geous•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ad•van•tage  (ad van′tij, -vän′-), n., v., -taged, -taging. 
n. 

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 fol. by over or of ):
   His height gave him an advantage over his opponent.
4. a position of superiority (often fol. by over or of ):
   their advantage in experienced players.
5. Sport [Tennis.] the first point scored after deuce.
6. 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.
7. take advantage of:
   • to make use of for gain:
     to take advantage of an opportunity.
   • to impose upon, esp. unfairly, as by exploiting a weakness:
     to take advantage of someone.
8. to advantage, to good effect;
   advantageously:
   The paintings were arranged to advantage on one wall.

v.t. 

9. to be of service to;
   yield profit or gain to;
   benefit.
10. to cause to advance;
    further;
    promote:
    Such action will advantage our cause.
11. to prove beneficial to;
    profit:
    It would advantage him to work harder.

• Anglo-French, Old French avantage, equivalent. to avant before (see advance) + -age -age; for ad- see advance
• Middle English ava(u)ntage 1300–50

Synonyms

• 2. Advantage, benefit, profit all mean something that is of use or value.
  Advantage is anything that places one in an improved position, esp. in coping with competition or difficulties:
  It is to one's advantage to have traveled widely.
  Benefit is anything that promotes the welfare or improves the state of a person or group:
  a benefit to society.
  Profit is any valuable, useful, or helpful gain:
  profit from trade or experience.
• 9. serve, avail, help, aid.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

advantage / ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/ noun

1. often followed by over or of: superior or more favourable position or power
2. benefit or profit (esp in the phrase to one's advantage)
3. the point scored after deuce
4. take advantage of ⇒ to make good use of
5. to impose upon the weakness, good nature, etc, of; abuse
6. to seduce
7. to advantage ⇒ to good effect

Etymology: 14th Century: 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