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Wiktionary

advantage

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

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ədˈvɑːn.tɪd͡ʒ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ədˈvæn.(t)ɪd͡ʒ/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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advantage (countable and uncountable, plural advantages)

  1. (countable) Any condition, circumstance, opportunity or means, particularly favorable or chance to success, or to any desired end.
    The enemy had the advantage of a more elevated position.
  2. (obsolete) Superiority; mastery; — used with of to specify its nature or with over to specify the other party.
  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.
    • 2012 November 17, “Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport‎[1]:
      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).

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb

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advantage (third-person singular simple present advantages, present participle advantaging, simple past and past participle advantaged)

  1. (transitive) to provide (someone) with an advantage, to give an edge to [from 15th c.]
    • 1655 April 21, “Mr. Ja. Nutley to ſecreary Thurloe.”, in A Collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, Eſq; […], volume III, London: […] the Executor of the late Mr. Fletcher Gyles; Thomas Woodward, […] Charles Davis, […], published 1742, page 399:
      I had almoſt forgotten to acquaint your honor, that one major Alford (who was in mr. Love's conſpiracy) was of the graund inqueſt at Saliſbury, and was very zealous in his highneſſe ſervice here, and his good affection and wiſe carriage here, did much advantage the buſſineſe.
  2. (reflexive) to do something for one's own benefit; to take advantage of [from 16th c.]

Usage notes

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

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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References

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Middle French

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Etymology

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From Old French, see above.

Noun

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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 to the usual one.
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Descendants

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