What does "advantage" mean?
Any condition, circumstance, opportunity or means, particularly favorable or chance to success, or to any desired end.
Advantage
/ədˈvæn.(t)ɪd͡ʒ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any condition, circumstance, opportunity or means, particularly favorable or chance to success, or to any desired end.
- Grammar: advantage is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: accommodation, account, ace in the hole, advance.
- Useful contrasts: adverse weather impact, advertising funded program, consequent damage.
- Usage evidence: Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors and swindle them out of their money.
How to use "advantage"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "advantage" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "advantage" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "advantage" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "advantage" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "advantage" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accommodation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "advantage", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any condition, circumstance, opportunity or means, particularly favorable or chance to success, or to any desired end. countable
"The enemy had the advantage of a more elevated position."
- 2 benefit resulting from some event or action wordnet
- 3 Superiority; mastery; — used with of to specify its nature or with over to specify the other party. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us."
- 4 the quality of having a superior or more favorable position wordnet
- 5 Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain; profit countable, uncountable
"the advantage of a good constitution"
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 (tennis) first point scored after deuce wordnet
- 7 The score where one player wins a point after deuce but needs the next to carry the game. countable, uncountable
- 8 The continuation of the game after a foul against the attacking team, because the attacking team are in an advantageous position. countable, uncountable
"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."
- 9 Interest of money; increase; overplus (as the thirteenth in the baker's dozen). countable, uncountable
"And with advantage means to pay thy love."
Verb
- 1 to provide (someone) with an advantage, to give an edge to transitive
"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 give an advantage to wordnet
- 3 to do something for one's own benefit; to take advantage of reflexive
"No man of courage vouchsafeth to advantage himselfe [translating s'avantager] of that which is common unto many."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors and swindle them out of their money."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "advantage"?
Common synonyms include: accommodation, account, ace in the hole, advance, advancement, advantageously.
How do you use "advantage" in a sentence?
Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors and swindle them out of their money.
How do you pronounce "advantage"?
Pronounced /ədˈvæn.(t)ɪd͡ʒ/.
Etymology
From Middle English avantage, avauntage, from Old French avantage, from avant (“before”), from Late Latin ab ante. The spelling with d originates in a latinizing hypercorrection, the a- being falsely supposed to be from Latin ad (see advance). For sense development, compare foredeal.