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)

advantaged, advantaging

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. 

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

I have an excellent, low-cost Medicare Advantage plan that allows me to use the same doctors I’ve been seeing for 35-plus years.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

Unless people enroll in Medicare Advantage or purchase supplemental coverage such as a Medigap policy, original Medicare does not include an annual out-of-pocket maximum.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

When CVS Health reports earnings on Wednesday, it’ll cap off first quarter results among Medicare Advantage players that have fared well so far, after spooking Wall Street early in the year.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

CVS Health’s Aetna was the third-largest provider External link of Medicare Advantage plans in 2025, behind UnitedHealth and Humana, according to health policy research group KFF.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

Thus the Allies gain'd some considerable Advantage or other every day.

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