benefit
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈbɛn.ɪ.fɪt/
enpr: bĕn'əfĭt
ipa: /ˈbɛn.ə.fɪt/
note: Indic
ipa: /bĕn.ĕf.ɪʈ/
Forms: form: benefits
form: benefiting
form: benefitting
form: benefited
form: benefited
form: benefitted
form: benefitted
form: benefite
Etymology: From Late Middle English benefytt, benefett, alteration (due to Latin bene-) of benfet, bienfet, bienfait (“good or noble deed”), from Anglo-Norman benfet (“well-done”), Middle French bienfait, from Old French bienfet, bienfait (“foredeal, favour”), from past participle of bienfaire (“to do good, do well”), from bien (“well”) + faire (“to do”), modelled after Latin benefactum (“good deed”). More at benefactor.
Senses: examples: text: […] I will repent of the good; wherewith I saide I would benefite them.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 18:10:
text: 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.
ref: 2025 October 1, Richard Evans, “The value of the railway effect”, in RAIL, number 1045, page 58:
glosses: To be or to provide a benefit to.
examples: text: 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; [...].
ref: 1960 June 23, “Talking of Trains: New B.R. research laboratory”, in Trains Illustrated, page 329:
text: Although some apeirophobics have benefitted from treatments like medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, others have found no way to mitigate the existential terror.
ref: 2016 September 1, Bobby Azarian, “Apeirophobia: The Fear of Eternity”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 18 Oct 2017:
text: 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.
ref: 2021 January 13, Christian Wolmar, “Read all about London's Cathedrals of Steam”, in RAIL, issue 922, page 63:
text: 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.
ref: 2023 September 14, Grazia Contributor, “This Is Why Katy Perry’s Sexuality Can Be A Controversial Talking Point”, in Grazia:
glosses: To receive a benefit (from); to be a beneficiary.
Synonyms: help
batten
behoove
Derived terms: benefitable
benefit association
benefit club
benefit corporation
benefit-cost analysis
benefit-cost ratio
benefit dollar
benefit in kind
benefit of clergy
benefit of doubt
benefit of inventory
benefit of the doubt
benefit principle
benefits coordinator
benefit segmentation
benefit society
benefit tourism
bennies
cafeteria benefit
child benefit
child tax benefit
cobenefit
core benefit
cost-benefit analysis
cost benefit analysis
death benefit
defined benefit
disbenefit
elective benefit
electronic benefit transfer
employee benefit
equivalent annual benefit
family benefit
friend with benefits
fringe benefit
in benefit
income-related benefit
injury benefit
marginal benefit
maternity benefit
means-tested benefit
non-pecuniary benefit
nonstatutory fringe benefit
nonwage benefit
private benefit
risk-benefit
sickness benefit
state benefit
stranded benefit
supplementary benefit
survivor benefit
unbenefited
unbenefiting
unemployment benefit
variable death benefit
widow’s benefit
Related terms: benefactor
beneficence
beneficent
beneficiary