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

The change should provide additional resources for students and create flexibility for students to take advantage of the opportunities. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

But Naroditsky previously had provided his close friends with a way to get inside via the garage, so Giannatos and Bortnyk took advantage of it and climbed the stairs to the third floor, where Naroditsky was still mid-live-stream. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025

The brand has expanded, over the years, in part by promoting new uses for almonds, taking advantage of health food trends and bringing its products into new markets around the world. —Sacbee.com, 18 Dec. 2025

Epstein even took advantage of people who were only tangentially connected to fame and wealth. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 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