advantage

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See also: Appendix:Collocations of do, have, make, and take

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English avantage, avauntage, from Old French avantage, from avant (“before”), from Medieval Latin abante. The spelling with d was a mistake, a- being supposed to be from Latin ad (see advance). For sense development, compare foredeal.

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL. IPA(key): /ədˈvɑːn.tɪdʒ/
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  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

advantage (countable and uncountable, plural advantages)

  1. (countable) Any condition, circumstance, opportunity or means, particularly favorable to success, or to any desired end.
    The enemy had the advantage of a more elevated position.
    • 2013 June 7, Ed Pilkington, “‘Killer robots’ should be banned in advance, UN told”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 6:
      In his submission to the UN, [Christof] Heyns points to the experience of drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles were intended initially only for surveillance, and their use for offensive purposes was prohibited, yet once strategists realised their perceived advantages as a means of carrying out targeted killings, all objections were swept out of the way.
    • Template:rfdatekShakespeare
      Give me advantage of some brief discourse.
    • (Can we date this quote by Macaulay and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      the advantages of a close alliance
  2. (obsolete) Superiority; mastery; — used with of to specify its nature or with over to specify the other party.
    • (Can we date this quote by Bible and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?), 2 Corinthians ii. 11
      Lest Satan should get an advantage of us.
  3. (countable, uncountable) Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain; profit
    the advantage of a good constitution
    Having the faster car is of little advantage.
  4. (tennis) The score where one player wins a point after deuce but needs the next to carry the game.
  5. (soccer) The continuation of the game after a foul against the attacking team, because the attacking team are in an advantageous position.
    • November 17 2012, BBC Sport: Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham
      Webb played an advantage that enabled Cazorla to supply a low cross from the left for Giroud to sweep home first time, despite Gallas and Vertonghen being in close attendance.
  6. Interest of money; increase; overplus (as the thirteenth in the baker's dozen).
    • (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      And with advantage means to pay thy love.

Synonyms

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Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

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Verb

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  1. (transitive) to provide (someone) with an advantage, to give an edge to [from 15th c.]
  2. (reflexive) to do something for one's own benefit; to take advantage of [from 16th c.]

Usage notes

  • Some authorities object to the use of advantage as a verb meaning "to provide with an advantage".

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

References

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French, see above.

Noun

advantage m (plural advantages)

  1. advantage
    • 1595, Michel de Montaigne, Essais:
      Et pour commencer a luy oster son plus grand advantage contre nous, prenons voye toute contraire a la commune.
      And to start removing the biggest advantage it has against us, let's the take opposite route the the usual one

Related terms

Descendants

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