profit

[ prof-it ]

/ ˈprɒf ɪt /

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See synonyms for: profit / profiting / profits on Thesaurus.com

noun

Often profits.

pecuniary gain resulting from the employment of capital in any transaction.Compare gross profit, net profit.
the ratio of such pecuniary gain to the amount of capital invested.
returns, proceeds, or revenue, as from property or investments.

the monetary surplus left to a producer or employer after deducting wages, rent, cost of raw materials, etc.: The company works on a small margin of profit.

advantage; benefit; gain.

verb (used without object)

to gain an advantage or benefit: He profited greatly from his schooling.

to make a profit.

to take advantage: to profit from the weaknesses of others.

to be of service or benefit.

to make progress.

verb (used with object)

to be of advantage or profit to: Nothing profits one so much as a sound education.

OTHER WORDS FOR profit

1 return.

2 net income.

3 good, avail, use, worth.

9 advance, help.

See synonyms for profit on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR profit

1 loss.

See antonyms for profit on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of profit

1250–1300; (noun) Middle English <Middle French <Latin prōfectus progress, profit, equivalent to prō-pro-¹ + -fec-, combining form of facere to make, do¹ + -tus suffix of v. action; (v.) Middle English profiten, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM profit

prof·it·er, nounprof·it·less, adjectiveprof·it·less·ly, adverbprof·it·less·ness, noun

pro·prof·it, adjectiveself-profit, nounun·prof·it·ed, adjectiveun·prof·it·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH profit

profit , prophet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use profit in a sentence

Analysts expect hefty profit growth almost across the board in 2021, as the economy gets back up to speed.
The 21 best stocks to buy for 2021|Anne Sraders|November 20, 2020|Fortune
Venture capitalists are more accustomed to funding high-risk companies, but work hard to protect their share of future profits.
Why we should be funding more Solyndras|Amy Nordrum|November 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Expectations are also high for a bounce-back in corporate profits.
Here are the most bullish trades for 2021—and, no, Bitcoin does not top the list|Bernhard Warner|November 18, 2020|Fortune
To turn a profit from drilling, oil would need to cost $78 a barrel.
DOI Harms Environmental Protections Until the End|Wes Siler|November 17, 2020|Outside Online

Although specific terms were not disclosed for either, there is an element of profit sharing in the premium video on demand rentals between the studio and the exhibitors.
Universal movies will be available to stream faster|Rachel Schallom|November 17, 2020|Fortune
Allowing residents to grow, smoke, and gift weed, it legalizes participating in the weed community, but not profiting from it.
The Real Election Winner: Weed|Abby Haglage|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For a New Democrat, financial services profiting from people on social services is the ultimate in public-private partnerships.
The People Vs. the Bank of Walmart|James Poulos|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Modern angst aside, those with those with specialized grooming simply seem to have a better chance of shining and profiting.
Get Elected, Get Your Kids Rich: Washington Is Spoiled Rotten|Clare Malone|February 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The legislature of Montana enacted a new law to keep him from profiting from his own version of the story.
The Ballad of Johnny France|Richard Ben Cramer|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Beyond his on-screen participation, Ai gave Klayman free rein on the film and is not profiting from it.
New Film Captures Ai Weiwei’s Defiance|Dan Levin|July 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Profiting by this, Benjy quietly moved away round a colossal buttress of the berg, and took refuge in an ice-cave.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Instead of profiting by the advice of those able soldiers, Lannes and Ney, he spent his time quarrelling with them.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
You are the most interested in making and profiting by those discoveries.
Pharaoh's Broker|Ellsworth Douglass
Nor were the establishments at either end of the township alone in profiting.
Colonial Born|G. Firth Scott
Yes, but none of them have the ability to do this sort of thing, nor the opportunity of profiting by it.
The Three Partners|Bret Harte

British Dictionary definitions for profit

profit

/ (ˈprɒfɪt) /

noun

(often plural) excess of revenues over outlays and expenses in a business enterprise over a given period of time, usually a year

the monetary gain derived from a transaction

income derived from property or an investment, as contrasted with capital gains
the ratio of this income to the investment or principal

economics

the income or reward accruing to a successful entrepreneur and held to be the motivating factor of all economic activity in a capitalist economy
(as modifier)the profit motive

a gain, benefit, or advantage

verb

to gain or cause to gain profit

Derived forms of profit

profiter, nounprofitless, adjective

Word Origin for profit

C14: from Latin prōfectus advance, from prōficere to make progress; see proficient

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

profit

OTHER WORDS FOR profit

OPPOSITES FOR profit

Origin of profit

OTHER WORDS FROM profit

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH profit

Words related to profit

How to use profit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for profit

Derived forms of profit

Word Origin for profit