advantage

advantage

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Pronunciation

advantage

• /ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/ or /ədˈvæn.tɪdʒ/

Syllable Breakdown:

• ad-: /əd/

• van-: /vɑːn/ or /væn/

• tage: /tɪdʒ/

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Word Form Variations

• Singular Noun: advantage

• Plural Noun: advantages

• Verb (base form): advantage (less common, often used in older texts or specific contexts)

• Verb (third person singular present): advantages

• Verb (present participle): advantaging

• Verb (past tense/past participle): advantaged

• Adjective: advantageous

• Adverb: advantageously

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• Definition 1: A condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position; a benefit or gain.

• Synonyms: benefit, superiority, upper hand, asset, perk, boon, leverage

• Antonyms: disadvantage, handicap, drawback, hindrance, impediment, liability

• Definition 2: In sports or games, a point or position of superiority over an opponent.

• Synonyms: lead, edge, dominance, ascendancy

• Antonyms: deficit, arrears, disadvantage

Verb (less common in modern usage)

• Definition 1: To be of benefit to; to profit or gain.

• Synonyms: benefit, profit, help, assist, serve, avail

• Antonyms: disadvantage, harm, hinder, impair, detriment

Adjective

• Definition 1 (Advantageous): Providing a benefit or favorable circumstance; helpful or opportune.

• Synonyms: beneficial, favorable, profitable, helpful, opportune, propitious, lucrative

• Antonyms: disadvantageous, unfavorable, unhelpful, detrimental, harmful, inconvenient

Adverb

• Definition 1 (Advantageously): In a way that provides a benefit or favorable outcome.

• Synonyms: favorably, profitably, beneficially, opportunely, helpfully

• Antonyms: disadvantageously, unfavorably, unprofitably, detrimentally

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Examples of Use

• Books:

• "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." (often misattributed to Charles Darwin, but widely circulated to illustrate the advantage of adaptability in evolution).

• "He had the advantage of a good education and a supportive family, which set him apart from many of his peers." (from a biography discussing a prominent figure's early life).

• Newspapers:

• "The new trade agreement is expected to give domestic manufacturers a significant advantage in the global market." ( The Wall Street Journal).

• "Despite playing with ten men for most of the second half, the team held onto their one-goal advantage to secure the win." ( The Guardian).

• Online Publications:

• "Investing in renewable energy sources offers a long-term advantage for both the environment and the economy." (Forbes.com).

• "Content creators who prioritize audience engagement gain a clear advantage on platforms like YouTube." (TechCrunch.com).

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Television Show (Sports Commentary): "LeBron James's physical prowess gives him a distinct advantage when driving to the basket." (ESPN broadcast).

• Video Game (Strategy Guide): "Utilize the terrain to your advantage by positioning your archers on high ground for increased range and visibility." (IGN.com review for a fantasy strategy game).

• Podcast (Business Interview): "Our startup's agility is a major advantage over larger, more bureaucratic competitors." (NPR's "How I Built This,’’).

• General Public Discourse:

• "She used her local knowledge to her advantage during the scavenger hunt, finding all the hidden clues quickly."

• "Having a strong network of contacts can be a huge advantage when looking for a new job."

• "The early bird gets the worm – there's definitely an advantage to starting projects ahead of schedule."

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10 Quotes Using Advantage

1. "The only real advantage a man can have over others is to be a little better than they are in something that is difficult to them." (George Santayana)

2. "The first great advantage of a good education is that it enables you to get along with others." (Aristotle)

3. "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all. From now on you will be learning to fly. You will have to use your wings. The advantage of knowing your own strength is that you can use it to help others." (Meg Cabot, Princess in the Spotlight)

4. "Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." (Kofi Annan - often paraphrased as "Knowledge is power, and information is advantage.")

5. "A gentleman is a man who puts more into the world than he takes out." (George Bernard Shaw - commonly extended with, "He who has the advantage of the game plays it.")

6. "The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time." (Friedrich Nietzsche)

7. "To derive advantage from the misfortunes of others is a mark of a base mind." (Cicero)

8. "An honest man's word is as good as his bond." (English proverb - sometimes extended with "and that's an advantage.")

9. "The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart." (Rumi - sometimes used in a context suggesting that inner beauty is an advantage.)

10. "The advantage of being a genius is that you can make your own rules." (Mark Twain - often attributed, reflecting on non-conformity)

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 Etymology

The word "advantage" has a pretty straightforward and interesting history! It comes to us from Old French, where it was "avantage" (pronounced closer to "ah-vahn-tahzh"). This French word was built from "avant," which means "before."

So, think of it this way: "avant" means "before," and the "-age" ending is like a suffix that makes it a noun. So, "avantage" originally meant something like being "in front" or "ahead" of someone or something else. This could be in terms of physical position (like being ahead in a race) or in a more general sense of being superior or having a better spot.

The earliest known use of "advantage" in English goes back to the early 14th century, specifically around 1300. At this time, it meant a "position of being in advance of another" or having "profit" or "superiority."

You might notice the "d" in "advantage" that isn't in the original "avantage." This "d" was actually added later in the 16th century, probably because English has many words that start with "ad-" from Latin, and people mistakenly thought "advantage" fit that pattern. So, it's a bit of a historical "typo" that stuck!

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Advantage

• To one's advantage: To be beneficial or favorable to someone.

• Take advantage of: To make good use of an opportunity, or to exploit someone or something for personal gain.

• Have the advantage: To be in a superior or more favorable position.

• Press one's advantage: To continue to exploit a favorable situation.

• Gain an advantage: To achieve a superior or more favorable position.

• Give someone the advantage: To concede a favorable position to someone.

• Turn to one's advantage: To convert a situation, often a difficult one, into a favorable outcome.

• Disadvantage turns to advantage: A difficult situation or weakness becomes a strength or benefit.

• Natural advantage: An inherent or innate superiority.

• Competitive advantage: A feature or aspect that makes a business or product superior to competitors.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of advantage from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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