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take advantage of

 - 4 dictionary results

ad⋅van⋅tage

  [ad-van-tij, -vahn-] noun, verb, -taged, -taging.
Use take advantage of in a Sentence
–noun
1. any state, circumstance, opportunity, or means specially favorable to success, interest, or any desired end: the advantage of a good education.
2. benefit; gain; profit: It will be to his advantage to learn Chinese before going to China.
3. superiority or ascendancy (often fol. by over or of): His height gave him an advantage over his opponent.
4. a position of superiority (often fol. by over or of): their advantage in experienced players.
5. Tennis. the first point scored after deuce.
–verb (used with object)
6. to be of service to; yield profit or gain to; benefit.
7. to cause to advance; further; promote: Such action will advantage our cause.
8. to prove beneficial to; profit: It would advantage him to work harder.
—Idioms
9. have the advantage of, to be in a superior or advantageous position; possess an advantage over: By virtue of independent wealth, he has the advantage of his opponents.
10. take advantage of,
a. to make use of for gain: to take advantage of an opportunity.
b. to impose upon, esp. unfairly, as by exploiting a weakness: to take advantage of someone.
11. to advantage, to good effect; advantageously: The paintings were arranged to advantage on one wall.
Origin:
1300–50; ME ava(u)ntage < AF, OF avantage, equiv. to avant before (see advance ) + -age -age; for ad- see advance

Synonyms:
2. Advantage, benefit, profit all mean something that is of use or value. Advantage is anything that places one in an improved position, esp. in coping with competition or difficulties: It is to one's advantage to have traveled widely. Benefit is anything that promotes the welfare or improves the state of a person or group: a benefit to society. Profit is any valuable, useful, or helpful gain: profit from trade or experience. 6. serve, avail, help, aid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To take advantage of
ad·van·tage   (ād-vān'tĭj)   
n.  

  1. A beneficial factor or combination of factors.

  2. Benefit or profit; gain: It is to your advantage to invest wisely.

  3. A relatively favorable position; superiority of means: A better education gave us the advantage.

  4. Sports

    1. The first point scored in tennis after deuce.

    2. The resulting score.

tr.v.   ad·van·taged, ad·van·tag·ing, ad·van·tag·es
To afford profit or gain to; benefit.

[Middle English avantage, from Old French, from avant, before, from Latin abante, from before; see advance.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

advantage 
1330, "position of being in advance of another," from O.Fr. avantage, from avant "before," probably via an unrecorded L.L. *abantaticum, from L. abante (see advance). The -d- is a 16c. intrusion on the analogy of Latin ad- words. Meaning "a favoring circumstance" (the opposite of disadvantage) is from 1483. Tennis score sense is from 1641, first recorded in writings of John Milton, of all people. Phrase to take advantage of is first attested 1393.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

take advantage of

Put to good use; avail oneself of; also, profit selfishly by, exploit. For example, Let's take advantage of the good weather and go hiking, or They really take advantage of her good nature, getting her to do all the disagreeable chores. [Late 1300s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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