- 1a thing that helps you to be better or more successful than other people a big/great/definite advantage an unfair advantage (= something that benefits you, but not your opponents) She had the advantage of a good education. You will be at an advantage (= have an advantage) in the interview if you have thought about the questions in advance. advantage over somebody Being tall gave him an advantage over the other players. companies seeking a competitive advantage over their trading rivals opposite disadvantage
- 2a quality of something that makes it better or more useful A small car has the added advantage of being cheaper to run. One advantage of/One of the advantages of living in the country is the fresh air. Each of these systems has its advantages and disadvantages. opposite disadvantage
- 3(abbreviation ad) (in tennis) the first point scored after a score of 40–40 Advantage Federer. Idioms
- 1to make use of something well; to make use of an opportunity She took advantage of the children's absence to clean their rooms. We took full advantage of the hotel facilities.
- 2to make use of someone or something in a way that is unfair or dishonest synonym exploit He took advantage of my generosity (= for example, by taking more than I had intended to give).
to give you an advantage; to change a situation in a way that gives you an advantage It would be to your advantage to attend this meeting. Eventually, the new regulations will work to our advantage.
in a way that shows the best of something The photo showed him to advantage. May was the month to see the garden to best advantage.
to use or change a bad situation so that it helps you Every magician has a trick that goes wrong, but you can use this to your advantage by pretending it was deliberate and making the audience laugh.
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