26984 words

advantage

12 definitions • 31 examples
1
a condition giving a greater chance of success:

Examples:

advantage of doing sth The advantage of booking tickets in advance is that you get better seats.
advantages of sth 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.
give sb an advantage Her background as a financial officer gives her an advantage in dealing with public budgets.
give sb an advantage over sb His height and reach give him a big advantage over (= make him better than) other boxers.
have the advantage of sb He has the advantage of being able to walk to work because he lives so close by.
have the advantage of sb 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)."
For a goalkeeper, it's a great advantage to have big hands.
2
to use the good things in a situation:

Examples:

I thought I'd take advantage of the sports facilities while I'm here.
3
to treat someone badly in order to get something good from them:

Examples:

I think she takes advantage of his good nature.
4
the word used in tennis when a player has won the point after deuce:

Examples:

Advantage Miss Williams!
5
In games such as football, if a referee plays advantage, they do not stop the game when there is a foul because allowing play to continue gives an advantage to the team that has been fouled:

Examples:

The ref should have played advantage because Rooney would have been through on goal.
6
to make someone or something more likely to be successful by creating a situation that helps them:

Examples:

Affluent parents seek to advantage their children by sending them to more exclusive schools.
If you change the rules in the middle of the game, you're advantaging or disadvantaging one of the competitors.
7
a condition that helps you or gives you a greater chance of success:

Examples:

[ C ] His long arms give him a big advantage over other boxers.
[ U ] Test scores show no advantage for students in the new schools.
[ U ] Her teacher likes her very much, which works to her advantage (= helps her) if she has trouble in class.
8
a good feature that makes something better than similar things:

Examples:

have/get/gain an advantage Smaller businesses often have an advantage in the area of customer relations.
advantage over sb Neither company appears to have a particular technological advantage over the other.
advantage for sb There are advantages for both employers and employees in flexible working hours.
the advantages of sth What are the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing?
the advantages of doing sth Some firms may find that the advantages of using free software outweigh the disadvantages.
The British ferry operator complained that its French rivals had an unfair advantage because of government aid.
a big/huge/major advantage Online advertising can have some major advantages.
a clear/definite/distinct advantage There can be distinct advantages in having a dominant individual presence in the boardroom.
9
in a more powerful or successful position than other people or things:

Examples:

With the dollar weakening, US exporters will be at an advantage.
Your experience as a legal secretary undoubtedly puts you at an advantage in terms of legal knowledge.
10
to use your skills, resources, etc. or a particular situation in order to get an opportunity for yourself:

Examples:

Have you taken full advantage of any tax-free savings plans?
11
to give a person or organization an advantage compared to other people or organizations:

Examples:

The bank thought e-commerce could work to its advantage because these markets tended to be highly protected by regulation.
12
to use your skills, resources, etc. to get an opportunity for yourself:

Examples:

She had some important contacts in the government, which she used to her advantage.

Navigation