View synonyms for profit

profit

[ prof-it ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Often profits.
1. pecuniary gain resulting from the employment of capital in any transaction. Compare gross profit, net profit.
2. the ratio of such pecuniary gain to the amount of capital invested.
3. returns, proceeds, or revenue, as from property or investments.
Synonyms: return
Antonyms: loss
the monetary surplus left to a producer or employer after deducting wages, rent, cost of raw materials, etc.:
The company works on a small margin of profit.
Synonyms: net income
advantage; benefit; gain.
Synonyms: worth, use, avail, good

verb (used without object)

to gain an advantage or benefit:
He profited greatly from his schooling.
to make a profit.
to take advantage:
to profit from the weaknesses of others.
to be of service or benefit.
to make progress.

verb (used with object)

to be of advantage or profit to:
Nothing profits one so much as a sound education.
Synonyms: help, advance

profit

/ ˈprɒfɪt /

noun

often plural excess of revenues over outlays and expenses in a business enterprise over a given period of time, usually a year
the monetary gain derived from a transaction
1. income derived from property or an investment, as contrasted with capital gains
2. the ratio of this income to the investment or principal
economics
1. the income or reward accruing to a successful entrepreneur and held to be the motivating factor of all economic activity in a capitalist economy
2. ( as modifier )
  the profit motive
a gain, benefit, or advantage

verb

to gain or cause to gain profit

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Derived Forms

ˈprofiter, noun
ˈprofitless, adjective

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Other Words From

profit·er noun
profit·less adjective
profit·less·ly adverb
profit·less·ness noun
pro·profit adjective
self-profit noun
un·profit·ed adjective
un·profit·ing adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of profit¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the noun) Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin prōfectus “progress, profit,” noun use of past participle of prōficere “to make progress,” from prō- pro- ¹ + -ficere, combining form of facere “to do, make” ( fact ); verb derivative of the noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of profit¹

C14: from Latin prōfectus advance, from prōficere to make progress; see proficient

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Example Sentences

Together, the teams are working 24 hours a day for a product that promises much higher risk than it does profit.

From The Daily Beast

She is using this technique, which generations of African-Americans have used for survival, for fame and profit.

From The Daily Beast

Marx forecast that the profit motive would lead to overworking and exhausting the fertility of our soil and other natural systems.

From The Daily Beast

Albuquerque Economic Development, a private non-profit, estimates the five year growth rate at almost double the U.S. in general.

From The Daily Beast

Will Christian pharmacists, county clerks, florists, and for-profit wedding chapels really withdraw from society, as you describe?

From The Daily Beast

Nearly all our great intervales might be irrigated immensely to the profit of their cultivators.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a great comparing of papers, and turning over of leaves, by Fogg and Perker, after this statement of profit and loss.

From Project Gutenberg

My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both?

From Project Gutenberg

It means enough not to satisfy them, and to leave the selling price of the things made at the point of profit.

From Project Gutenberg

Only I fear they will not profit us much; for if my eyes deceive me not, both are already captured.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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