take advantage of
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
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
The Belfast Telegraph OnlineExamples of take advantage of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Researchers took advantage of rare, powerful gamma-ray bursts in distant galaxies.
—
James Cirrone,
FOXNews.com,
4 July 2026
Butler was one of several key women in the history of environmental restoration who took advantage of the fact that botany was not entirely restricted to men—though this also meant that it was denigrated as a feminine pastime.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 July 2026
Caissie should take advantage of his power against a low-strikeout pitcher and smash a home run today.
—
Josh Shepardson,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
Sizes are going quickly, so take advantage of the discounts and shop before the sale ends on July 8.
—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for take advantage of
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James Cirrone,
FOXNews.com,
4 July 2026
Butler was one of several key women in the history of environmental restoration who took advantage of the fact that botany was not entirely restricted to men—though this also meant that it was denigrated as a feminine pastime.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 July 2026
Caissie should take advantage of his power against a low-strikeout pitcher and smash a home run today.
—
Josh Shepardson,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
Sizes are going quickly, so take advantage of the discounts and shop before the sale ends on July 8.
—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for take advantage of
Cite this Entry
“Take advantage of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20advantage%20of. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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