benefit

verb

benefited ˈbe-nə-ˌfi-təd  also benefitted; benefiting also benefitting

transitive verb

: to be useful or profitable to

policies that primarily benefit the wealthy

The candidate held a fundraiser to benefit her campaign.

These stories can benefit you, the writer, as a form of catharsis.

—David Weill

intransitive verb

: to receive help or an advantage : to receive benefit

patients who will benefit from the drug

has benefited from his experiences in the military

benefiter

ˈbe-nə-ˌfi-tər 

noun

Synonyms of benefit

• help
• avail
• aid
• profit

Examples of benefit in a Sentence

The new plan may benefit many students.

medicines that benefit thousands of people

The politician held a fund-raiser to benefit his campaign.

Some critics say that the tax cuts only benefit wealthy people.

He'll benefit by having experiences I never did.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Ghostbusters hosted a special presentation and live auction benefitting the FDNY Foundation, for which the Ghostbusters in Concert National Fall Tour also teamed up with Black Ink to donate a portion of ticket sales. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 June 2026

If Americans can’t sell their shares for any reason, the funds could also be used to benefit certain companies over others. —Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

Guests at The Stone House benefit from a prime location next to the Roanoke River Greenway and the Grandin Village neighborhood, a quaint shopping and dining destination. —Julekha Dash, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2026

With earnings now in the background, analysts have been warning that the tech companies benefiting from interest in artificial intelligence may have become too expensive. —Arkansas Online, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing benefit

• benefit corporation
• benefit of clergy
• child benefit
• cost-benefit
• death benefit
• for one's benefit
• for one's own benefit
• fringe benefit
• have the benefit of
• of benefit to
• sickness benefit
• the benefit of the doubt
• to one's benefit
• without (the) benefit of
• with the benefit of

Kids Definition

benefit

1 of 2 noun

ben·​e·​fit ˈben-ə-ˌfit 

1

a

: something that does good to a person or thing

the benefits of fresh air and sunshine

b

: useful aid : help

had to perform without the benefit of a rehearsal

2

a

: money paid at death or when sick, retired, or unemployed (as by an insurance company or public agency)

b

: something (as health insurance or vacation time) provided to a worker by an employer in addition to pay

3

: an entertainment or social event to raise funds for a person or cause

benefit

2 of 2 verb

benefited

-ˌfit-əd

also benefitted; benefiting also benefitting

1

: to be useful or profitable to

medicines that benefit all

2

: to receive benefit

I benefited from the experience

Etymology

Middle English benefet, benefit "good deed," derived from Latin bene factum (same meaning), from bene factus, past participle of bene facere "to do good," from bene "well" (akin to bonus "good") and facere "to do, make" — related to bonus, fashion

Legal Definition

benefit

noun

ben·​e·​fit

1

: something that provides an advantage or gain

specifically : an enhancement of property value, enjoyment of facilities, or increase in general prosperity arising from a public improvement

— general benefit

: a benefit to the community at large resulting from a public improvement

— special benefit

: a benefit from a public improvement that directly enhances the value of particular property and is not shared by the community at large

Note: In proceedings for a partial taking for the purpose of a public improvement, the condemning authority may use a special benefit to the remaining land as a set-off against the landowner's damages for the taking.

2

in the civil law of Louisiana : a right especially that serves to limit a person's liability

— benefit of discussion

: the right of a surety being sued to compel the suing creditor to sue the principal first

— benefit of division

: the right of a surety being sued to compel the suing creditor to also sue the cosureties

also : the right of the surety to be liable only for his or her proportionate share of the debt

— benefit of inventory

: the right of an heir to be held liable for the debts of the estate only to the extent of the assets in the estate

Note: The heir obtains the benefit of inventory by having a qualified public officer (as a notary public) make an inventory of the assets in the estate within the time period set by statute.

3

a

: financial help in time of disability, sickness, old age, or unemployment

b

: payment or service provided for under an annuity, pension plan, or insurance policy see also death benefit

c

: fringe benefit

benefit verb