benefit

noun

ben·e·fit | \ ˈbe-nə-ˌfit

Definition of benefit

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : something that produces good or helpful results or effects or that promotes well-being : advantage discounted prices and other benefits of a museum membership The benefits outweigh the risks of taking the drug. reaping the benefits of their hard work changes that will be to your benefit

b : useful aid : help without the benefit of a lawyer

2a : financial help in time of sickness, old age, or unemployment is on unemployment benefit a disability benefit a family on benefits

b : a payment or service provided for under an annuity, pension plan, or insurance policy collecting his retirement benefits

c : a service (such as health insurance) or right (as to take vacation time) provided by an employer in addition to wages or salary The job doesn't pay much, but the benefits are good.

3 : an entertainment or social event to raise funds for a person or cause holding a benefit to raise money for the school

4 archaic : an act of kindness : benefaction

benefit

verb

benefited\ ˈbe-nə-ˌfi-təd

\ also benefitted; benefiting also benefitting

Definition of benefit (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to be useful or profitable to tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy held a fund-raiser to benefit her campaign

intransitive verb

: to receive help or an advantage : to receive benefit patients who will benefit from the drug has benefited from his experiences in the military

Other Words from benefit Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing benefit Learn More About benefit

Synonyms & Antonyms for benefit

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Noun

Examples of benefit in a Sentence

Noun the benefits of fresh air and sunshine A benefit of museum membership is that purchases are discounted. There are many financial benefits to owning your own home. She is just now starting to reap the benefits of all her hard work. The benefits of taking the drug outweigh its risks. I see no benefit in changing the system now. We're lucky to be able to get the full benefit of her knowledge. He began collecting his retirement benefits when he was 65. He began collecting his retirement benefit when he was 65. The job doesn't pay much, but the benefits are good. Verb The new plan may benefit many students. medicines that benefit thousands of people The politician held a fund-raiser to benefit his campaign. Some critics say that the tax cuts only benefit wealthy people. He'll benefit by having experiences I never did. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun An earlier version the House approved in March was expected to increase spending by more than $320 billion over 10 years, but senators trimmed some of the costs early on by phasing in certain benefit enhancements. — Kevin Freking, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Aug. 2022 The bill could also limit how much companies use a tax benefit for serving foreign markets from the U.S. Companies may also be affected in hard-to-predict circumstances where tax and financial accounting differ. — Richard Rubin, WSJ, 3 Aug. 2022 Farnsworth did say that the event would provide a benefit to his campaign, even the weekend before end of voting. — Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 3 Aug. 2022 The pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark includes the originator product Remicade on formulary but excludes all three biosimilars. — Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 The company has shortened its time to hire since rolling out Work From Anywhere, dropping from 48 days to 42 days, a huge benefit for the growing organization in a tight labor market. — Aman Kidwai, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 An earlier version the House approved in March was expected to increase spending by more than $320 billion over 10 years, but senators trimmed some of the costs early on by phasing in certain benefit enhancements. — Kevin Freking, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022 Baker suspects that sheer volume might explain why even the simple stretching added up to an apparent benefit. — Lauran Neergaard, ajc, 2 Aug. 2022 Some experts in the U.S. warned that Pelosi’s trip would offer little material benefit but could prompt a saber-rattling response from Beijing that would mushroom into a larger crisis. — Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld join CHANEL to host the annual Night of Comedy to benefit the Good+ Foundation at a private residence in East Hampton, New York, on July 30. — People Staff, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2022 But Hong Kong has yet to benefit from the tussle, and Jefferies securities analyst Shujin Chen warns that even if the largest firms choose Hong Kong over mainland exchanges, there is no guarantee their debuts will command the same valuations. — Clay Chandler, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2022 Al Qaeda’s succession challenges come just as the group had begun to benefit from the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. — Jessica Donati, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 The company also said that new vehicles with its Vehicle Intelligence Platform (VIP) that are already equipped with Super Cruise will be the first to benefit from the expansion. — Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 3 Aug. 2022 Such entities, under the code, are supposed to benefit the overall social welfare. — Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 3 Aug. 2022 There are umpteen ways to benefit from such open source initiatives. — Deepak Syal, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Tuesday's event tipped off with the Wildcats addressing early arriving fans before working the phones for the telethon to benefit Kentucky Flood Relief. — Brett Dawson, The Courier-Journal, 2 Aug. 2022 The Foundation, in June, operated Lyndhurst’s first Safety Town for children in more than 20 years, and is planning further ways to benefit the city and its youth. — cleveland, 2 Aug. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'benefit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

6 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Benefit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benefit. Accessed 12 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for benefit

benefit

noun

ben·e·fit | \ ˈbe-nə-ˌfit

Kids Definition of benefit

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a good or helpful result or effect the benefits of fresh air

2 : useful assistance : help … he is an orphan whom I raised myself without benefit of governess …— Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

3 : money paid in time of death, sickness, or unemployment or in old age (as by an insurance company)

benefit

verb

benefited; benefiting

Kids Definition of benefit (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to be useful or profitable to The changes will benefit everyone.

2 : to be helped He'll benefit from new experiences.

benefit

noun

ben·e·fit

Legal Definition of benefit

1 : something that provides an advantage or gain specifically : an enhancement of property value, enjoyment of facilities, or increase in general prosperity arising from a public improvement

— general benefit

: a benefit to the community at large resulting from a public improvement

— special benefit

: a benefit from a public improvement that directly enhances the value of particular property and is not shared by the community at large

Note: In proceedings for a partial taking for the purpose of a public improvement, the condemning authority may use a special benefit to the remaining land as a set-off against the landowner's damages for the taking.

2 in the civil law of Louisiana : a right especially that serves to limit a person's liability

— benefit of discussion

: the right of a surety being sued to compel the suing creditor to sue the principal first

— benefit of division

: the right of a surety being sued to compel the suing creditor to also sue the cosureties also : the right of the surety to be liable only for his or her proportionate share of the debt

— benefit of inventory

: the right of an heir to be held liable for the debts of the estate only to the extent of the assets in the estate

Note: The heir obtains the benefit of inventory by having a qualified public officer (as a notary public) make an inventory of the assets in the estate within the time period set by statute.

3a : financial help in time of disability, sickness, old age, or unemployment

b : payment or service provided for under an annuity, pension plan, or insurance policy — see also death benefit

c : fringe benefit