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any state, circumstance, opportunity, or means specially favorable to success, interest, or any desired end:
the advantage of a good education.
benefit; gain; profit:
It will be to his advantage to learn Chinese before going to China.
superiority or ascendancy (often followed by over or of):
His height gave him an advantage over his opponent.
a position of superiority (often followed by over or of):
their advantage in experienced players.
Tennis. the first point scored after deuce.
to be of service to; yield profit or gain to; benefit.
to cause to advance; further; promote:
Such action will advantage our cause.
to prove beneficial to; profit:
It would advantage him to work harder.
have the advantage of, to be in a superior or advantageous position; possess an advantage over:
By virtue of independent wealth, he has the advantage of his opponents.
take advantage of,

to make use of for gain:
to take advantage of an opportunity.
to impose upon, especially unfairly, as by exploiting a weakness:
to take advantage of someone.

to advantage, to good effect; advantageously:
The paintings were arranged to advantage on one wall.
Contemporary Examples

A WashPost/ABC News poll actually gives Romney a 45-42 advantage over Obama.
Medicare: Huge Democratic Problem Michael Tomasky August 27, 2012

The advantage we have over musicians is we actually know our customers!
E-Books And Cost Pressures Push College Students Away From Textbooks CNBC June 23, 2013

The government has played this up to their advantage, in an apparent attempt to turn ordinary Syrians against the opposition.
Damascus Rebels Stuck in Stalemate Mike Giglio January 16, 2013

Rather, we are simultaneously able to see how the party is reacting to and dealing with the disappearance of that advantage.
Michael Tomasky on Mitt Romney’s Total Neocon Meltdown Michael Tomasky September 12, 2012

The regime uses such happenings to its advantage, and has made a standing offer to provide arms to any Christian who wants them.
Syria’s Christians Wary of Both Rebels and Assad Regime Clare Morgana Gillis October 16, 2012

Historical Examples

It has been an advantage for that sweet girl to have been brought up by them.
Won from the Waves W.H.G. Kingston

Every advantage of education is to be procured by the same means.
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 Various

It is, I have found, only in books that men use the last moment to advantage.
Tomaso’s Fortune and Other Stories Henry Seton Merriman

As to the advantage of birth, that is of his side, above any man who has been found out for me.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) Samuel Richardson

On the other hand, what real loss was mine—with so much to my advantage?
Memoirs of a Midget Walter de la Mare

noun
often foll by over or of. superior or more favourable position or power: he had an advantage over me because of his experience
benefit or profit (esp in the phrase to one’s advantage)
(tennis)

the point scored after deuce
the resulting state of the score

take advantage of

to make good use of
to impose upon the weakness, good nature, etc, of; abuse
to seduce

to advantage, to good effect: he used his height to advantage at the game
you have the advantage of me, you know me but I do not know you
n.

early 14c., avantage, “position of being in advance of another,” from Old French avantage “advantage, profit, superiority,” from avant “before,” probably via an unrecorded Late Latin *abantaticum, from Latin abante (see advance).

The -d- is a 16c. intrusion on the analogy of Latin ad- words. Meaning “a favoring circumstance” (the opposite of disadvantage) is from late 15c. Tennis score sense is from 1640s, first recorded in writings of John Milton, of all people. Phrase to take advantage of is first attested late 14c.

Related Terms

home-court advantage
see:

get the advantage of
show to advantage
take advantage of
to advantage