advantage

advantage — noun

1. something about a person or situation that puts them in a stronger position than

1.nounB1
Definition

something about a person or situation that puts them in a stronger position than others — for example, speaking the local language, knowing the right people, or having more money to spend.

Example

Speaking French gave Lucia a real advantage at the Paris job interview.

give somebody an advantage

Tall players have a clear advantage over shorter ones in basketball.

have an advantage over somebody

Common collocations
  • have an advantage over
  • give somebody an advantage
  • gain an advantage
  • press home an advantage
  • competitive advantage
  • unfair advantage
Synonyms
  • edge

    less formal; suggests a small but useful lead in a competition

  • benefit

    broader; the good result you get, not the head start that produces it

  • head start

    informal; emphasises starting earlier or ahead

Antonyms
  • disadvantage

    the direct opposite; something that puts you in a weaker position

  • drawback

    a negative aspect of an otherwise good thing

Grammar Patterns

the advantage of doing something

an advantage to/over someone

Usage Note

Often appears with 'have', 'give', or 'gain'. The thing being compared follows 'over' (an advantage over rivals); the field or area follows 'in' (an advantage in math).

Common Mistakes

She has an advantage than her sister.
She has an advantage over her sister.
use 'over', not 'than', after 'advantage'.
The advantage to live here is the quiet.
The advantage of living here is the quiet.
use 'advantage of + -ing form' for general statements.

2. a quality of an object, plan, or method that makes it more helpful or attractive

2.nounB1
Definition

a quality of an object, plan, or method that makes it more helpful or attractive than the alternatives — for example, a phone with a long battery life or a route with fewer traffic lights.

Example

The big advantage of this laptop is its battery, which lasts twelve hours.

the advantage of + noun

Glass bottles have one advantage over plastic ones: they keep water tasting fresh.

advantage of X over Y

Common collocations
  • the main advantage
  • a major advantage
  • the chief advantage
  • have the advantage of
Synonyms
  • benefit

    very close in meaning here; both work for product features

  • plus

    informal; often used in casual lists of good points

  • merit

    more formal; emphasises the quality being praiseworthy

Antonyms
  • drawback

    a negative feature of something otherwise good

  • downside

    informal; the bad side of an option

Grammar Patterns

the advantage of something

the advantage of X over Y

Usage Note

Subject is usually an object, plan, route, or method (not a person). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is about a person's stronger position; this sense is about a feature of a thing.

3. in the phrase 'take advantage of someone': to behave in an unkind or unfair way

3.nounB2
Definition

in the phrase 'take advantage of someone': to behave in an unkind or unfair way toward a person so that you gain money, help, or some other benefit from them.

Example

Don't let your boss take advantage of you by making you work every weekend without pay.

take advantage of + person

Some shop owners took advantage of tourists by charging them double for water.

take advantage of + person

Common collocations
  • take advantage of someone's kindness
  • take advantage of the elderly
  • take advantage of trust
Synonyms
  • exploit

    more formal; emphasises using someone for selfish gain

  • use

    informal; 'he was using her' suggests the same idea

  • manipulate

    stresses cleverly controlling someone for personal benefit

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

take advantage of somebody

Usage Note

Distinguish from idiom 'take advantage of (an opportunity)' (idiom 2 below): with a person object, the meaning is negative; with a thing or chance object, the meaning is positive.

Common Mistakes

He takes advantage on his friends.
He takes advantage of his friends.
always 'of', never 'on' or 'from'.

4. in tennis, the score called out by the umpire when one player wins the next poin

4.noun
Definition

in tennis, the score called out by the umpire when one player wins the next point straight after the score has reached deuce; one more winning point ends the game.

Example

After a long deuce, the umpire called 'advantage Williams' as Serena hit a clean ace.

advantage + player name

It was advantage Nadal, but Federer fought back and forced another deuce.

Common collocations
  • advantage server
  • advantage receiver
  • advantage in
  • advantage out
Synonyms
  • ad

    short, informal call used by players and casual commentators

Antonyms
  • deuce

    the 40–40 score that 'advantage' follows

Usage Note

Used as a single-word call by the umpire, often followed by the player's surname (e.g. 'advantage Djokovic'). No article in this announcement.

5. in football, rugby, and similar team sports, a decision by the referee to let pl

5.noun
Definition

in football, rugby, and similar team sports, a decision by the referee to let play carry on after a foul because stopping would actually help the team that committed the foul.

Example

The referee waved play on, signalling advantage to the attacking team near the goal.

play advantage / signal advantage

Spain played advantage and scored within seconds, before the referee could blow for the foul.

play advantage

Common collocations
  • play advantage
  • signal advantage
  • wave advantage
  • advantage rule

Grammar Patterns

play advantage

Usage Note

Common collocations are 'play advantage', 'signal advantage', and 'wave advantage'. The phrase 'advantage rule' refers to the rule itself.

Idioms

be/work to your advantage

idiom

Something that helps you or makes a situation better for you.

Learning Spanish worked to Maya's advantage when she traveled to Mexico.

Is it to your advantage to arrive early for the interview?

take advantage of something/somebody

idiom

To use something or someone in a way that helps you, sometimes unfairly.

Sara took advantage of the sunny weather to wash her car.

Diego felt that his boss took advantage of him by asking him to work late.

to (good/best) advantage

idiom

In a way that shows the best qualities of someone or something.

The new haircut showed her face to good advantage.

The museum displayed the paintings to best advantage with soft lighting.

turn something to your advantage

idiom

To use a bad situation in a way that helps you instead of harming you.

Min turned his mistake to his advantage by learning from it.

Can you turn this delay to your advantage by preparing more?

advantage — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something good you have, but they highlight different things. 'Advantage' focuses on being in a stronger position than someone else — it usually involves comparison, as in 'an advantage over rivals'. 'Benefit' is broader and more neutral; it names the good result itself, with no need for a competitor (the benefits of exercise). 'Edge' is more informal and suggests a small but useful lead, often in business or sport: 'Their app gives them the edge over competitors.' 'Head start' is the most concrete and emphasises starting earlier or further ahead, often used about education or careers: 'Bilingual children have a head start when they begin school.' So you can say 'speaking French is a benefit', 'speaking French gives Lucia an edge', or 'speaking French is a real advantage at her job interview' — each puts the focus slightly differently.

advantage ↗benefit ↗edge ↗head start

Common collocations

Nouns

  • competitive advantage
  • unfair advantage
  • tactical advantage
  • home advantage
  • tax advantage

Adverbs

Phrases

  • have the advantage
  • take full advantage of
  • press home an advantage
  • use something to your advantage

Prepositions

  • advantage over (somebody)
  • advantage in (something)
  • advantage of (doing something)
  • to your advantage

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

English borrowed 'advantage' from Old French 'avantage' in the 14th century, where it meant a position in front or ahead. The French noun was built on 'avant' ('before, in front'), which itself goes back to Late Latin 'abante' ('from before'). The original spatial idea of being in front developed naturally into the modern senses of 'a stronger position' and 'a useful benefit'. The tennis call entered English in the 19th century, keeping the older idea of being one step ahead.