Advantage means being in a better position than someone else, or having something that makes success more likely. When a basketball team has a height advantage, their taller players can reach the basket more easily. When you study hard before a test, you have an advantage over students who didn't prepare.

An advantage doesn't guarantee you'll win or succeed, but it tips the scales in your favor. A chess player who captures her opponent's queen gains a major advantage because she has more powerful pieces on the board. A runner who trains at high altitude might have an advantage in a sea-level race because her body adapted to thinner air.

The word can describe natural gifts (like perfect pitch for a musician), earned skills (like speaking two languages), or simple circumstances (like living closer to school). You can take advantage of an opportunity, which means using it wisely, though the phrase “take advantage of someone” means treating them unfairly or exploiting their trust.

Sometimes advantages are obvious, like starting a race ten steps ahead. Other times they're subtle, like knowing the right questions to ask. People often try to recognize their advantages and use them well, while also understanding that hard work and persistence can matter more than any initial advantage.