advantage

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. superiority, upper hand, leverage, the better (of); gain, profit, benefit, odds, favor, ace in the hole (inf.). See chance, success. Ant., drawback, handicap.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [Preferred condition or circumstance]

Syn. luck, favor, approval, help, aid, sanction, leeway, good, patronage, support, preference, choice, odds, protection, start, leg up, helping hand, upper hand, leverage, purchase, hold, favoring circumstance, dominating position, favorable opportunity, superior situation, best estate, vantage, ground, play point, pull*, edge*, ace in the hole*, whip hand*, card up one's sleeve*, drop*, jump*.

Ant. handicap, disadvantage*, drawback.

2. [The result of having an advantage, sense 1]

Syn. dominance, superiority, supremacy, lead, influence, vantage, upper hand, power, resources, wealth, mastery, profit, gain, authority, prestige, recognition, position, eminence, preeminence, primacy, hold, sway, precedence, ascendancy, prevalence.

Ant. failure*, hindrance, impotence.

3. [Benefit]

Syn. good, gain, benefit, profit, welfare, avail, interest, expediency, improvement, return, behalf, account, sake, worth, comfort, gratification, convenience, help, utility, use, success, emolument, windfall, satisfaction, consolation, enjoyment, pleasure, solace, bounty, favor, boon, weal, blessing, service, compensation, asset, prize, mileage*.

Ant. misfortune*, calamity, catastrophe.

• have the advantage of,

Syn. be superior, have the opportunity, be privileged; see succeed 1 .

• take advantage of,

4. [To make use of]

Syn. avail oneself of, profit by, make the most of; see use 1 .

5. [To make unfair use of]

Syn. impose upon, exploit, abuse; see abuse 1 , deceive .

• to advantage,

Syn. successfully, advantageously, well; see helpfully .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

1. superiority edge, *leg up, *upper hand, head start, help, assistance, aid, favor, leverage, *ace in the hole, odds.

2. benefit gain, profit, blessing, boon, asset.

ANT.: 1. disadvantage, liability, handicap, weakness

IV

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.

use, impose upon, *step on.

V

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. A factor conducive to superiority and success: handicap, head start, odds, start, vantage. See HELP. 2. Something beneficial: avail, benefit, blessing, boon1, favor, gain, profit. See HELP. 3. Something that contributes to or increases one's well-being: benefit, good, interest (often used in plural), profit. See HELP. 4. The quality of being suitable or adaptable to an end: account, avail, benefit, profit, use, usefulness, utility. See USED. 5. A dominating position, as in a conflict: better1, bulge, draw, drop, edge, superiority, upper hand, vantage. Informal: inside track, jump. See OVER. II verb To be an advantage to: avail, benefit, profit, serve. Archaic: boot2. Idiom: stand someone in good stead. See HELP.