often attributive
1
: a valuable return : gain
2
: the excess of returns over expenditure in a transaction or series of transactions
especially
: the excess of the selling price of goods over their cost
3
: net income usually for a given period of time
4
: the ratio of profit for a given year to the amount of capital invested or to the value of sales
5
: the compensation accruing to entrepreneurs for the assumption of risk in business enterprise as distinguished from wages or rent
profited; profiting; profits
: to be of service to : benefit
Synonyms
Examples of profit in a Sentence
Noun
The company made a profit this year.
Profits are up from last year.
There was a rise in profits this year.
The profits from CD sales were donated to charity.
The organization is not run for profit.
The film made $1,000,000 in profit.
The book can be read with profit by anyone who wants to understand how the system works.
Verb
It would profit him to take some computer classes.
The company has profited by selling its products online.
He profited greatly from his investments.
The island profits from tourism.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2023
Before the law, taxes were owed only on profits that were brought into the United States.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 5 Dec. 2023
If prices decline, investors buy shares back at the lower value and return them to the lender, taking the margin between the original share value and the new, lower value, as profit.
—Eli Tan, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023
Purdue would restructure itself as a public benefit company, with its profits used to make products that combat opioid addiction.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2023
The court will hear arguments in Moore v. U.S., which challenges a piece of the 2017 tax law that imposed a one-time levy on profits that companies had accumulated outside the U.S.
—Richard Rubin, WSJ, 3 Dec. 2023
Some sought fame or academic recognition, others sought profit or revenge, and a few sought only amusement.
—Daniel T. Ksepka, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2023
The board of directors that pushed Altman out represents a 501(c)(3) and holds as its mission the creation of general-use AI that will benefit mankind, not the generation of profit.
—Brian Contreras, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023
The new rules would drop the requirement down to just $600 in profit.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2023
Jennifer Ouellette and Sean M. Carroll, Ars Technica, 24 Nov. 2023
The star also expresses her opinion that Jamie Lynn profited from her unhappiness.
—Clare Fisher, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Some of the plaintiffs’ lawyers argue that insurance companies still stand to profit from the changes in Florida’s laws.
—Eli Tan, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023
In its most recent earnings report, for the three months ended in September, AMC swung to profit and saw its revenue climb thanks to the success of films such as Barbie and Oppenheimer.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Nov. 2023
If the lot sells for over that price, the guarantor stands to profit.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 8 Nov. 2023
The oil companies are profiting from the same factor — higher prices — that is causing inflation.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Most notably, Desi’s mother, who’d rather profit than protect her daughter.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 10 Nov. 2023
James' office says the Trumps profited by at least $250 million through the fraud, and are asking the judge to award the state an equivalent amount.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2023
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Noun
On Wednesday, opening statements are slated to start in an Oakland federal courthouse in the long-running case at the intersection of Hollywood and Silicon Valley that threatens a portion of Disney’s profits for Beauty.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2023
Before the law, taxes were owed only on profits that were brought into the United States.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 5 Dec. 2023
If prices decline, investors buy shares back at the lower value and return them to the lender, taking the margin between the original share value and the new, lower value, as profit.
—Eli Tan, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023
Purdue would restructure itself as a public benefit company, with its profits used to make products that combat opioid addiction.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2023
The court will hear arguments in Moore v. U.S., which challenges a piece of the 2017 tax law that imposed a one-time levy on profits that companies had accumulated outside the U.S.
—Richard Rubin, WSJ, 3 Dec. 2023
Some sought fame or academic recognition, others sought profit or revenge, and a few sought only amusement.
—Daniel T. Ksepka, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2023
The board of directors that pushed Altman out represents a 501(c)(3) and holds as its mission the creation of general-use AI that will benefit mankind, not the generation of profit.
—Brian Contreras, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023
The new rules would drop the requirement down to just $600 in profit.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2023
Verb
Max Walker travels back to 1929 to apprehend a rogue time traveler planning to profit from the stock market crash.
—Jennifer Ouellette and Sean M. Carroll, Ars Technica, 24 Nov. 2023
The star also expresses her opinion that Jamie Lynn profited from her unhappiness.
—Clare Fisher, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Some of the plaintiffs’ lawyers argue that insurance companies still stand to profit from the changes in Florida’s laws.
—Eli Tan, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023
In its most recent earnings report, for the three months ended in September, AMC swung to profit and saw its revenue climb thanks to the success of films such as Barbie and Oppenheimer.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Nov. 2023
If the lot sells for over that price, the guarantor stands to profit.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 8 Nov. 2023
The oil companies are profiting from the same factor — higher prices — that is causing inflation.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Most notably, Desi’s mother, who’d rather profit than protect her daughter.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 10 Nov. 2023
James' office says the Trumps profited by at least $250 million through the fraud, and are asking the judge to award the state an equivalent amount.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'profit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin profectus advance, profit, from proficere
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of profit was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing profit
Articles Related to profit
Dictionary Entries Near profit
Cite this Entry
“Profit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profit. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on profit
Nglish: Translation of profit for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of profit for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about profit
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