advantage

Meanings

1. A condition that puts you in a better position.
2. A good point or a benefit.

Example sentences

• "Being tall is an advantage in basketball."

  Level B1, Meaning 1

• "One advantage of living here is the clean air."

  Level B1, Meaning 2

• "The team had the advantage of playing at home."

  Level B1, Meaning 1

• "Think about the advantages and disadvantages before you decide."

  Level B1, Meaning 2

Synonyms and antonyms

Look-alikes and common mistakes

• benefit : A benefit is a good result you receive. An advantage is a better position compared with others.

Word family and forms

Forms: advantages

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "advantage".

• have an advantage
• an unfair advantage
• a big advantage
• advantages and disadvantages
• to your advantage
• competitive advantage

Idioms and phrases

take advantage of

To use an opportunity, or to use someone unfairly.

"We took advantage of the sunny weather and went to the beach."

to your advantage

In a way that helps you.

"Speaking Spanish will work to your advantage in this job."

Origin

Advantage comes from Old French avantage, built from avant, meaning before or ahead. The English spelling got an extra d by mistake, because people wrongly thought the first part came from Latin ad.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Dictionary.com.

Usage notes

The phrase "take advantage of" can mean using an opportunity wisely, or unfairly using someone. The tone depends entirely on context.

How to remember it

Advantage has "van" in the middle, like the front of an army: the vanguard is ahead, and an advantage puts you ahead.

Test yourself

Learn next at B1

• advent The arrival or beginning of something significant, especially somethin...
• adversary An opponent or enemy, especially in a competition, argument, or confli...
• adverse Unfavorable or harmful, working against someone's interests.
• adversity Difficult circumstances or hardship that a person has to deal with.
• advise To give someone suggestions about what they should do.
• adviser A person whose job is to give expert guidance and recommendations.