benefit

plural benefits · alternative obsolete benefite · alternative misspelling benifit

1. countableuncountableAn advantage; help or aid from something.

   She can't read, so the voice recording was made for her benefit.

   3 more examples

   Exposure to cutting-edge technologies is one of the benefits of the job.

   When this conversation was repeated in detail within the hearing of the young woman in question, and undoubtedly for his benefit, Mr. Trevor threw shame to the winds and scandalized the Misses Brewster then and there by proclaiming his father to have been a country storekeeper.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   For the trip over the grass-covered sleepers and between the cow-parsley and briars, an open wagon was added to the usual combination of locomotive and coach, for the benefit of those who wanted to take photographs.

   1954 April, A. R. G. Hawkins, “The Easingwold Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 271

   Synonyms: foredeal, advantage, aid, assistance, boon, help, percentage

2. countableuncountablebusinessA payment made in accordance with an insurance policy or a public assistance scheme.

   Synonyms: subsidy

3. countableuncountableAn event, such as a theatrical performance, given to raise funds for some cause.

   Gore Vidal […] will be sharing his wit and wisdom at the Arlington Street Church on Wednesday, April 5th at 7:00. The appearance is a benefit for the Boston/Boise Committee and the tickets are priced at $5.

   1978 April 8, Eric Rogers, “People, Places and Flings”, in Gay Community News, page 13

4. countableobsoleteuncountablebeneficence; liberality

   The Birds, that liue i'th field / On the vvilde Benefit of nature, liue / Happier then vve; for they may chooſe their Mates, / And carroll their ſvveet pleaſures to the Spring: […]

   1612–1613 (date written), John Webster, The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy. […], London: […] Nicholas Okes, for Iohn Waterson, […], published 1623, →OCLC, Act III, scene v, signature [H3], recto

5. countableuncountableIntended audience (as for the benefit of).

   The whole scene was staged for his benefit, and it completely fooled him.

   2 more examples

   Since my wife is Canadian, whenever we have dinner with my family, they keep bringing up anything they've heard about Canada lately for her benefit.

   So, if Obodzinski is correct in saying that Mrs. Piela actually signed a document in the coffee shop, in front of witnesses, she staged a scene, pretending that it was the alleged Mandate. The other explanation is that none of this ever took place, and the staging was only a fictitious creation for the benefit of the Court.

   2020 April 16, Gary D.D. Morrison, J.S.C., “Succession de Kalimbet Piela c. Obodzinski, 2020 QCCS 1222”, in CanLII, retrieved 09 May 2021

present singular third person benefits · participle present benefiting · participle present benefitting · participle past benefited · past benefited · participle past benefitted · past benefitted · alternative obsolete benefite · alternative misspelling benifit

1. transitiveTo be or to provide a benefit to.

   […] I will repent of the good; wherewith I saide I would benefite them.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 18:10

   1 more example

   The spending in and around local stations is creating micro-economies that are benefiting Great Britain's high streets, independent businesses and economic growth, both locally and on a national level.

   2025 October 1, Richard Evans, “The value of the railway effect”, in RAIL, number 1045, page 58

2. intransitiveTo receive a benefit (from); to be a beneficiary.

   Although some apeirophobics have benefitted from treatments like medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, others have found no way to mitigate the existential terror.

   2016 September 1, Bobby Azarian, “Apeirophobia: The Fear of Eternity”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 18 Oct 2017

   3 more examples

   Diesel maintenance schedules are benefiting from work done on the magnificent Hilger & Watts electronic spectrograph for oil analysis, which detects minute quantities of metals in samples of used lubricating oil; [...].

   1960 June 28, “Talking of Trains: New B.R. research laboratory”, in Trains Illustrated, page 329

   Instead, the grime of the steam years which still discoloured many of the best architectural features Betjeman loved has been cleared away, and several of the stations have benefited from major refurbishments which have greatly improved them.

   2021 January 13, Christian Wolmar, “Read all about London's Cathedrals of Steam”, in RAIL, issue 922, page 63

   Although Katy has admitted to being bi-curious in the past, the reason a lot of fans wanted clarity on her sexuality was to ensure she wasn't queer-baiting and benefiting from a culture she isn't actually part of.

   2023 September 14, Grazia Contributor, “This Is Why Katy Perry’s Sexuality Can Be A Controversial Talking Point”, in Grazia