take advantage of
idiomatic phrase
1
: to make good use of (something) : to profit by (something)
take advantage of an opportunity
We took advantage of the warm weather and did some yard work.
2
a
: to impose on (someone) : to ask for or expect more than is fair or reasonable from (someone)
After a while, I began to think she was taking advantage of me.
He felt like he'd been taken advantage of.
b
: to use (something or someone) unfairly for personal gain
He took advantage of [=exploited] my lack of experience.
It adds that young people in care homes, with learning disabilities, those excluded from school or using drugs or alcohol are particularly vulnerable to being targeted by people who take advantage of them for money, food or drugs.—
Stephen Naysmith
Stephen Naysmith
c
: to exploit (someone) sexually
The star shared her experiences of Hollywood bosses who tried to take advantage of her in the early days of her career.—The Belfast Telegraph Online
The Belfast Telegraph OnlineExamples of take advantage of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To make the apartments affordable, the development company took advantage of federal tax credits available for low-come housing and a zero-interest loan from the city, said Alexander Kiss, managing partner for Banyan Development Group, which built the project.
—Michael Cuglietta, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2025
More than 3,000 Amazon shoppers have taken advantage of this deal in the past month, and snapped up the set that’s racked up over 14,000 perfect ratings.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Like Amazon, which used its perch in e-commerce to build a powerhouse cloud computing business, Walmart has taken advantage of its mammoth retail base to grow with e-commerce, add on an advertising business and collect more dollars from membership programs.
—Evan Clark, WWD, 27 Feb. 2025
These tranquil retreats take advantage of natural light for a bright and airy feel and pare down furnishings to the essentials to create an uncluttered spot for relaxation.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 27 Feb. 2025
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Michael Cuglietta, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2025
More than 3,000 Amazon shoppers have taken advantage of this deal in the past month, and snapped up the set that’s racked up over 14,000 perfect ratings.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Like Amazon, which used its perch in e-commerce to build a powerhouse cloud computing business, Walmart has taken advantage of its mammoth retail base to grow with e-commerce, add on an advertising business and collect more dollars from membership programs.
—Evan Clark, WWD, 27 Feb. 2025
These tranquil retreats take advantage of natural light for a bright and airy feel and pare down furnishings to the essentials to create an uncluttered spot for relaxation.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take advantage of
Cite this Entry
“Take advantage of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20advantage%20of. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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