advantage
B1Neutral to Formal (common in all registers)
Definition
Meaning
A condition or circumstance that gives a greater chance of success or improvement.
A beneficial feature or factor; benefit or gain from a situation; a superior position in a competitive context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a comparative edge over others. The verb form, 'to advantage', is rarer and more formal than the noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. In sports, especially tennis, the call/point is 'advantage [player name]' in both. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical in connotation, though perhaps slightly more common in formal British business/academic contexts.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have an advantage over [someone/something]take advantage of [something/someone]give [someone] an advantagework to [someone's] advantagebe at an advantageVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take advantage of someone/something”
- “to advantage”
- “turn something to your advantage”
- “press home an advantage”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a strategic benefit, e.g., 'Our low overhead gives us a cost advantage.'
Academic
Used in argumentation or analysis, e.g., 'The study highlights the advantages of the proposed methodology.'
Everyday
Common for discussing pros/cons, e.g., 'One advantage of living here is the cheaper rent.'
Technical
Used in fields like game theory, sports science, and engineering to denote a quantifiable benefit or superior position.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- This policy will advantage smaller firms.
- The new tax rules are not thought to advantage the wealthy.
American English
- The legislation is designed to advantage domestic producers.
- How does this change advantage our shareholders?
adverb
British English
- She used her experience advantageously.
- The funds were invested advantageously.
American English
- He positioned himself advantageously for the promotion.
- The contract was negotiated advantageously.
adjective
British English
- He was in an advantaged position during the negotiations. (rare, but possible)
- The more advantaged students had better resources.
American English
- She comes from an advantaged background.
- Strategically advantaged locations cost more.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The big advantage of my phone is the camera.
- Living near work is a big advantage.
- Having good English is an advantage in the job market.
- We need to use our speed to our advantage.
- The company's early investment in AI gave it a significant competitive advantage.
- He took unfair advantage of her trust.
- Critics argue that the policy disproportionately advantages the incumbent parties.
- She deftly turned the potential crisis to her political advantage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tennis player who has 'AD-VANTAGE' – they are 'ADvanced' and in a better 'position' to win the point.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADVANTAGE IS A RESOURCE / ADVANTAGE IS A HEAD START IN A RACE
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'преимущество' for all contexts; 'benefit' or 'pro' might be more natural for simple pros/cons lists.
- Do not confuse 'take advantage of' (exploit/use) with 'воспользоваться' in a purely neutral sense; it often has a negative connotation when referring to people.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'advantage' as a countable noun without an article where needed (e.g., 'She has advantage' → 'She has an advantage').
- Incorrect preposition: 'advantage on' (incorrect) vs. 'advantage over' (correct).
Practice
Quiz
What does the phrase 'take advantage of' MOST OFTEN imply when referring to a person?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Advantage' often implies a comparative edge over others (e.g., in competition). 'Benefit' is a more general positive effect or gain, not necessarily comparative.
Yes, but it is quite formal and less common than the noun. It means 'to give an advantage to' or 'to benefit'.
No. With opportunities or situations, it's neutral/positive ('take advantage of the sunny weather'). With people, it usually has a negative connotation of unfair exploitation.
The most direct antonym is 'disadvantage'. Other opposites include 'drawback', 'hindrance', and 'handicap'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Innovation
B2 · 46 words · Language of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.