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

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

Examples of take advantage of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

FanDuel In-App Offers FanDuel Sportsbook has several in-app offers that new users can take advantage of in addition to the welcome offer. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025

The sound effects were less sacrosanct, and notably sparse on the 1939 soundtrack, so the film was given an almost completely new sound design and foley track, taking advantage of the venue’s vast spatial canvas. —Tim Greiving, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2025

Hopefully, this will result in more HDR content that these screens can take advantage of. —Luke Larsen, Wired News, 25 June 2025

With Prime Day 2025 just around the corner, pet parents can take advantage of deals on all kinds of useful pet gear, including popular pet cameras and smart water fountains. —Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 25 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for take advantage of

• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove
• hereinabove