benefit
[ ben-uh-fit ]
/ ˈbɛn ə fɪt /
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noun
something that is advantageous or good; an advantage: He explained the benefits of public ownership of the postal system.
a payment or gift, as one made to help someone or given by an employer, an insurance company, or a public agency: The company offers its employees a pension plan, free health insurance, and other benefits.
a theatrical performance or other public entertainment to raise money for a charitable organization or cause.
Archaic. an act of kindness; good deed; benefaction.
verb (used with object), ben·e·fit·ed or ben·e·fit·ted, ben·e·fit·ing or ben·e·fit·ting.
to do good to; be of service to: a health program to benefit everyone.
verb (used without object), ben·e·fit·ed or ben·e·fit·ted, ben·e·fit·ing or ben·e·fit·ting.
to derive benefit or advantage; profit; make improvement: He has never benefited from all that experience.
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Idioms for benefit
for someone's benefit, so as to produce a desired effect in another's mind: He wasn't really angry; that was just an act for his girlfriend's benefit.
Origin of benefit
OTHER WORDS FROM benefit
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for benefit
British Dictionary definitions for benefit
benefit
/ (ˈbɛnɪfɪt) /
noun
something that improves or promotes
advantage or sakethis is for your benefit
British
- an allowance paid by the government as for sickness, unemployment, etc, to which a person is entitled under social security or the national insurance scheme
- any similar allowance in various other countries
(sometimes plural) a payment or series of payments made by an institution, such as an insurance company or trade union, to a person who is ill, unemployed, etc
a theatrical performance, sports event, etc, to raise money for a charity
verb -fits, -fiting or -fited or esp US -fits, -fitting or -fitted
to do or receive good; profit
Word Origin for benefit
C14: from Anglo-French benfet, from Latin benefactum, from bene facere to do well
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
Idioms and Phrases with benefit
benefit
see give the benefit.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.