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
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Director Simon Stone seems lost about what to do with this contrived premise and fails to take advantage of its natural claustrophobic nature. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025 Plus, monitor your heart rate 24/7 and take advantage of sleep tracking to learn how to sleep better. Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025 More businesses are interested in taking advantage of the properties of space, according to a report by McKinsey & Company. Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025 The Wiesenthal Center will take advantage of that powerful room by detailing the expansion of its Moriah Media production arm. William Earl, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take advantage of

Word History

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of take advantage of was in 1618

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Cite this Entry

“Take advantage of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20advantage%20of. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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