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

But on Thursday, the Dutch duo took advantage of the Paris Photo fair to provide a preview of the upcoming exhibition at interior designer India Mahdavi’s Project Room. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 13 Nov. 2025

The metal fabrication company’s entire headquarters is designed to take advantage of the power of technology and advancement. —Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025

The Royals would like to see Caglianone lift the baseball more to take advantage of his raw power. —Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2025

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and some may be curious about when to tune in for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and when to take advantage of Black Friday shopping deals. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Nov. 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