advantage
a condition giving a greater chance of success
The advantage of book ing tickets in advance is that you get better seats.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
advantage
noun
something that helps you or that is useful:
One advantage of camping is that it's cheap.
opposite disadvantage
take advantage of something to make good use of something to help yourself:
Buy now and take advantage of these special prices!
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
advantage
ad‧van‧tage S2 W1 /ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ $ ədˈvæn-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑advantage ≠ ↑disadvantage, the disadvantaged; adjective: ↑advantageous ≠ ↑disadvantageous, ↑advantaged ≠ ↑disadvantaged; verb: ↑disadvantage; adverb: ↑advantageously ≠ ↑disadvantageously]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: avantage, from avant 'before', from Latin abante; ⇨ ↑advance2]
1. [uncountable and countable] something that helps you to be more successful than others, or the state of having this OPP disadvantage
advantage over
Her experience meant that she had a big advantage over her opponent.
Younger workers tend to be at an advantage (=have an advantage) when applying for jobs.
It might be to your advantage (=it might help you) to take a computer course of some kind.
2. [uncountable and countable] a good or useful feature that something has
advantage of
One of the many advantages of living in New York is that you can eat out at almost any time of day.
advantage over
This printer has several advantages over conventional printers.
3. take advantage of somebody to treat someone unfairly in order to get what you want, especially someone who is generous or easily persuaded:
Don’t lend them the car – they’re taking advantage of you!
4. take advantage of something (to do something) to use a particular situation to do or get what you want:
I took advantage of the good weather to paint the shed.
You’ll want to take full advantage of the beach-front clubs.
5. use/turn something to your/good advantage to use something that you have or that happens in order to achieve something:
How could he turn the situation to his advantage?
Burns used his family connections to good advantage.
6. show something to (good/great) advantage to make the best features of someone or something very noticeable:
Her dress showed her tanned skin to great advantage.
7. advantage somebody used in tennis to show that the person named has won the next point after the score was 40–40
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
advantage
▪ I. ad·van·tage [advantage advantages advantaged advantaging] noun, verb [ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ] [ədˈvæntɪdʒ]
noun countable, uncountable
1. a thing that helps you to be better or more successful than other people
• a big/great/definite advantage
• an unfair advantage (= sth that benefits you, but not your opponents)
• She had the advantage of a good education.
• You will be at an advantage (= have an advantage) in the interview if you have thought about the questions in advance.
• ~ over sb Being tall gave him an advantage over the other players.
• companies seeking competitive advantage over their trading rivals
Opp: disadvantage
2. a quality of sth that makes it better or more useful
• A small car has the added advantage of being cheaper to run.
• One advantage of/One of the advantages of living in the country is the fresh air.
• Each of these systems has its advantages and disadvantages.
Opp: disadvantage
3. (in tennis) the first point scored after a score of 40–40
• Advantage Federer.
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French avantage, from avant ‘in front’, from late Latin abante ‘in front’, from ab ‘from’ + ante ‘before’. The initial a- was mistakenly assimilated to ad- in the 16th cent.
Thesaurus:
advantage noun
1. sing.
• Being tall gave him an advantage over the other players.
edge • • lead • • the upper hand • • head start •
Opp: disadvantage
an advantage/an edge/a lead/the upper hand/a head start over sb/sth
an advantage/an edge/a lead/the upper hand/a head start in sth
have/give sb an advantage/an edge/a lead/the upper hand/a head start
2. C, U
• the advantages of having a degree
benefit • • strength • • good • • asset • • good point • |informal plus •
Opp: disadvantage
some/any/no advantage/benefit in sth
be to sb's advantage/benefit
considerable/great/real/relative advantages/benefits/strengths/good/assets
Advantage or benefit? A benefit is sth that you get or that comes from sth that you do. An advantage is sth that a person, thing, plan or action has as a quality.
Example Bank:
• Breastfeeding offers a clear advantage to your baby.
• East coast resorts have the advantage over west coast ones.
• He would gain considerable advantage from staying in that job.
• I took complete advantage of the situation.
• It is to your advantage to delay things for as long as possible.
• The bright lighting showed the jewels to their best advantage.
• The commanders were anxious to press home their advantage with a further offensive in the north.
• The company has an unfair advantage over its competitors.
• The company was able to gain a competitive advantage over its rivals by reducing costs.
• The new design gives us a clear advantage over our competitors.
• The plan would be to our mutual advantage.
• There may be some advantage in laying down a clearer procedure.
• These computers have the added advantage of being cheap.
• They argue that the possible risks attached to such vaccines vastly outweigh any advantages.
• the advantage to both countries of closer economic ties
• the natural advantages of a fertile soil
• the natural advantages of countries with low labour costs
• Being tall gave him a definite advantage over the other players.
• Having a degree is a huge advantage when it comes to getting a job.
• Is there any advantage in getting there early?
• The bill will give US tuna processors a competitive advantage in the US tuna market.
• Their better training gave the French troops a decisive advantage.
• They took an early lead and held onto their advantage right to the end.
• With good cooperation we should be able to exploit this opportunity to our mutual advantage.
• You will be at an advantage if you have thought about the interview questions in advance.
Idioms: take advantage of somebody ▪ to your advantage ▪ turn something to your advantage
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
advantage / ədˈvɑːn.tɪdʒ / / -ˈvæn.t̬ɪdʒ / noun
B1 [ C or U ] a condition giving a greater chance of success:
The advantage of book ing tickets in advance is that you get better seats.
Despite the twin advantages of wealth and beauty, she did not have a happy life.
[ + to infinitive ] It would be to your advantage (= it would improve the situation for you) to agree to his demands.
For a goalkeeper, it 's a great advantage to have big hands.
His height and reach give him a big advantage over (= make him better than) other boxers.
UK formal "Do you know how old I am?" "I'm afraid you have the advantage of me there (= you know the answer but I do not) ."
take advantage of sth B1 to use the good things in a situation:
I thought I'd take advantage of the sports facilities while I'm here.
take advantage of sb / sth B2 disapproving to treat someone badly in order to get something good from them:
I think she takes advantage of his good nature.
I know she's offered to babysit, but I don't want her to think we're taking advantage of her.
[ U ] the word used in tennis when a player has won the point after deuce:
Advantage Miss Williams!
Word partners for advantage
a big / great / major / obvious advantage • the main advantage • an unfair advantage • have an advantage • give sb an advantage • the advantage of sth • put sb/ be at an advantage • be / work to sb's advantage
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
advantage
[ædvɑ͟ːntɪʤ, -væ̱n-]
advantages
1) N-COUNT An advantage is something that puts you in a better position than other people.
They are deliberately flouting the law in order to obtain an advantage over their competitors...
A good crowd will be a definite advantage to me and the rest of the team.
Ant:
disadvantage
2) N-UNCOUNT Advantage is the state of being in a better position than others who are competing against you.
Men have created a social and economic position of advantage for themselves over women.
3) N-COUNT: oft N of n An advantage is a way in which one thing is better than another.
The great advantage of home-grown oranges is their magnificent flavour...
This custom-built kitchen has many advantages over a standard one.
Ant:
disadvantage
4) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you take advantage of something, you make good use of it while you can.
I intend to take full advantage of this trip to buy the things we need.
5) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If someone takes advantage of you, they treat you unfairly for their own benefit, especially when you are trying to be kind or to help them.
She took advantage of him even after they were divorced.
6) PHRASE: PHR after v If you use or turn something to your advantage, you use it in order to benefit from it, especially when it might be expected to harm or damage you.
The government have not been able to turn today's demonstration to their advantage.
7) PHRASE: PHR after v If something is shown to good advantage or to best advantage, it is shown in a way that reveals its best features.
The walls were painted in muted tones to show the pictures to good advantage.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
advantage
ad·van·tage /ədˈvæntɪʤ, Brit ədˈvɑːntɪʤ/ noun, pl -tag·es
1 [count]
a : something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others
• Higher ground gave the enemy the/an advantage.
• He has/enjoys an unfair advantage over us because of his wealth.
• His plan has the advantage of being less expensive than other options.
• He lacked the advantages of an advanced education.
• Speed is an advantage in most sports.
• The company's only advantage over the competition is its location.
• Applicants for this job will find that previous experience is an advantage.
• The union should be at an advantage [=should have an advantage] in the negotiations.
b : a good or desirable quality or feature
• Being able to set your own schedule is one of the advantages of owning a business.
• Among the advantages of a small college is its campus life.
- opposite disadvantage
2 [noncount] : benefit or gain
• There isn't any advantage in/to leaving early.
• She used her position for personal advantage. [=for personal gain; to help herself]
• The error was to our advantage. [=we were helped by the error]
- opposite disadvantage
✦If you turn/use something to your advantage or to good advantage, you use something in a way that is helpful to you.
• Is there a way to turn this situation to our advantage? [=is there a way to exploit this situation?; is there a way to take advantage of this situation?]
3 [noncount] tennis : the first point won after the score is tied at 40–40 - used to announce the person who has won the point
• Advantage Mr. Jones.
take advantage of
1 : to use (something, such as an opportunity) in a way that helps you : to make good use of (something)
• We took advantage of the warm weather and did some yard work.
• They are taking advantage of an opportunity to travel.
• You should take (full) advantage of this opportunity while you can.
2 a : to ask for or expect more than is fair or reasonable from (someone) : to treat (someone who is generous or helpful) unfairly
• After a while, I began to think she was taking advantage of me.
b : to use (something) unfairly for personal gain
• He took advantage of [=exploited] my lack of knowledge.
• She took advantage of our generosity.
to advantage : in an attractive and appealing way
• The display shows off the collection to (good/best) advantage.
