advantage

American  

[ad-van-tij, -vahn-] / ædˈvæn tɪdʒ, -ˈvɑn- /

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 orof ).

   His height gave him an advantage over his opponent.

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

   their advantage in experienced players.

5. Tennis. the first point scored after deuce.

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verb (used with object)

advantages, present (3rd person singular) advantaged, past participle, past advantaging present participle

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.

idioms

1. to advantage, to good effect; advantageously.

   The paintings were arranged to advantage on one wall.

2. 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.

3. 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.

advantage British  

/ ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ /

noun

1. 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. 1. to make good use of

   2. to impose upon the weakness, good nature, etc, of; abuse

   3. to seduce

5. to good effect

   he used his height to advantage at the game

6. you know me but I do not know you

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advantage More Idioms  

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

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Usage

What are other ways to say advantage? An advantage is something that positions one well for accomplishing something. How is advantage different from benefit and profit? Find out on Thesaurus.com. 

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have advantaged
  perfect
• has advantaged
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am advantaging
  progressive 1st person singular
• are advantaging
  progressive
• have been advantaging
  perfect progressive
• has been advantaging
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is advantaging
  progressive 3rd person singular
• advantaging
  participle
• advantages
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had advantaged
  perfect
• had been advantaging
  perfect progressive
• were advantaging
  progressive plural
• was advantaging
  progressive singular
• advantaged
  simple
• advantaged
  participle

Future

• will advantage
  simple
• will have advantaged
  perfect
• will have been advantaging
  perfect progressive
• will be advantaging
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of advantage

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

Explanation

An advantage is like a head start in a race; it's that thing that gives you a better chance. The noun advantage also refers to a reward or benefit of some action or event. Being sick with the flu had the advantage of kick-starting your diet because you didn't feel like eating much. If you leverage the benefits, you are taking advantage of the situation. If you go on a business trip to Hawaii, you could take advantage of the opportunity and spend an extra day or two on vacation.

Example Sentences

Advantage plans can be economical—until health conditions mount.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

It would be an adjustment for someone accustomed to traditional Medicare to switch to an Advantage plan and bump up against these restrictions, says Louise Norris, health policy analyst at MedicareResources.org External link.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

What’s more, many Advantage plans are structured as health maintenance organizations with limited choices of doctors, referral requirements for specialists, and prior authorization requirements for certain procedures.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

AHIP, the trade organization representing private Medicare Advantage insurers, of course dispute the numbers.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

Tho' 'tis a Town not very much fortify'd, yet 'tis a strong Place considering the Advantage it has of laying all the Country round it under Water.

From The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume III Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts. by P?llnitz, Karl Ludwig von

Related Words

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