What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Help vs Advantage - What's the difference?

help | advantage | Related terms |

Advantage is a synonym of help.



In transitive terms the difference between help and advantage

is that help is to avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself). Usually used in nonassertive contexts with can while advantage is to provide (someone) with an advantage, to give an edge to.

help

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (uncountable) Action given to provide assistance; aid.
  • I need some help with my homework.
  • (usually, uncountable) Something or someone which provides assistance with a task.
  • He was a great help to me when I was moving house.
    I've printed out a list of math helps .
  • Documentation provided with computer software, etc. and accessed using the computer.
  • I can't find anything in the help about rotating an image.
  • (usually, uncountable) One or more people employed to help in the maintenance of a house or the operation of a farm or enterprise.
  • The help is coming round this morning to clean.
    Most of the hired help is seasonal, for the harvest.
  • (uncountable, euphemistic) Correction of deficits, as by psychological counseling or medication or social support or remedial training.
  • His suicide attempts were a cry for help .
    He really needs help in handling customer complaints.
    ''"He's a real road-rager." / "Yup, he really needs help , maybe anger management."
    Usage notes
    The sense "people employed to help in the maintenance of a house" is usually an uncountable mass noun. A countable form - "a hired help''", "''two hired helps " - is attested, but now less common.
    Synonyms
    * (action given to provide assistance) aid, assistance * (person or persons who provide assistance) * (person employed to help in the maintenance of a house)
    Derived terms
    * cry for help * help desk * helpful * helpless * helpline * helply * helpmate * helpmeet * helpsome * home help * self-help

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) helpen, from (etyl) . Cognate with (etyl) .

    Verb

  • To provide assistance to (someone or something).
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=76, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Snakes and ladders , passage=Risk is everywhere.
  • To contribute in some way to.
  • To provide assistance.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help , and he stripped off his tunic at once.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=72-3, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= A punch in the gut , passage=Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.}}
  • To avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself). Usually used in nonassertive contexts with can .
  • Usage notes
    * Use 3 is often used in the imperative mood as a call for assistance. * In uses 1, 2 and 3, this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . It can also take the bare infinitive with no change in meaning. * In use 4, can't help is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) or, with but, the bare infinitive. * For more information, see
    Synonyms
    * (provide assistance to) aid, assist, come to the aid of, help out * (contribute in some way to) contribute to * (provide assistance) assist
    Derived terms
    * a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down * can't help * helper * helping * help oneself * help out

    advantage

    English

    Alternative forms

    * advauntage (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any condition, circumstance, opportunity or means, particularly favorable to success, or to any desired end.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author= Ed Pilkington
  • , volume=188, issue=26, page=6, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= ‘Killer robots’ should be banned in advance, UN told , passage=In his submission to the UN, [Christof] Heyns points to the experience of drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles were intended initially only for surveillance, and their use for offensive purposes was prohibited, yet once strategists realised their perceived advantages as a means of carrying out targeted killings, all objections were swept out of the way.}}
  • * Shakespeare
  • Give me advantage of some brief discourse.
  • * Macaulay
  • the advantages of a close alliance
  • (obsolete) Superiority; mastery; — used with of to specify its nature or with over to specify the other party.
  • * Bible, 2 Corinthians ii. 11
  • Lest Satan should get an advantage of us.
  • Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain; profit; as, the advantage of a good constitution.
  • (tennis) The score where one player wins a point after deuce but needs the next too to carry the game.
  • (soccer) The continuation of the game after a foul against the attacking team, because the attacking team are in a advantageous position.
  • * November 17 2012 , BBC Sport: Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham
  • Webb played an advantage that enabled Cazorla to supply a low cross from the left for Giroud to sweep home first time, despite Gallas and Vertonghen being in close attendance.
  • Interest of money; increase; overplus (as the thirteenth in the baker's dozen).
  • * Shakespeare
  • And with advantage means to pay thy love.

    Synonyms

    * foredeal, benefit, value, edge * vantage

    Antonyms

    * disadvantage, drawback

    Derived terms

    * advantage ground * advantageous * advantageously * advantageousness * have the advantage * take advantage

    Verb

    (advantag)
  • To provide (someone) with an advantage, to give an edge to.
  • (reflexive) To do something for one's own benefit; to take advantage of.
  • *, II.7:
  • No man of courage vouchsafeth to advantage himselfe of that which is common unto many.

    Usage notes

    * Some authorities object to the use of advantage as a verb meaning "to provide with an advantage".

    Synonyms

    * favor, favorise * benefit

    Derived terms

    * advantageable

    References

    * ----