profits
profits — noun
- profitssingular
- profitsesplural
1. the money a business keeps after paying all the costs of making or selling its p
the money a business keeps after paying all the costs of making or selling its products or services — for example, if a shop takes in $100,000 and spends $80,000, its profit is $20,000
After paying staff and rent, the bakery's annual profits were over fifty thousand dollars.
The company's profits fell sharply last year because the cost of materials went up.
collocation: profits fell / profits rose
Vivek invested part of his profits in new equipment for his shop.
Tara checked the quarterly profits report and was pleased with the numbers.
Nonprofit hospitals use their excess profits to improve patient care and buy new machines.
- loss
when costs exceed income
文法句型
profit + verb (fall/rise/grow)
make/turn a profit
用法筆記
Commonly used in the plural form (profits) in business contexts. The singular profit is uncountable when talking about the general concept: 'The business is run for profit.' Fixed phrases like 'turn a profit', 'show a profit', 'be in profit', and 'move into profit' describe the transition to profitability — these are special collocations of this financial sense, not a separate meaning.
常見錯誤
2. a helpful or valuable result that you get from doing something, even if no money
a helpful or valuable result that you get from doing something, even if no money is involved — for example, the profit of regular exercise is better health
Yan gained no real profit from attending the meeting, since nothing was decided.
collocation: gain profit from
There is little profit in arguing with someone who refuses to listen to your point.
structure: there is little profit in + V-ing
Aarav reads books for profit as well as pleasure, always looking for useful ideas.
The main profit of regular exercise is not weight loss but better mental health.
What is the profit of spending all weekend studying if you are already exhausted?
- disadvantage
the opposite of an advantage or benefit
文法句型
profit of + noun/verb-ing
there is little/no profit in + verb-ing
用法筆記
This sense is less common in modern English. It often appears in fixed patterns like 'there is little/no profit in' or 'for profit' (meaning 'not for fun but for a useful purpose').
常見錯誤
profits — verb
- profitspresent simple I / you / we / they
- profitses3rd person singular
- profitsing-ing form
- profitsedpast simple
1. to earn money from a business deal or activity, so that you end up with more mon
to earn money from a business deal or activity, so that you end up with more money than you started with
Jack profited from the sudden rise in housing prices when he sold his apartment.
The farmer profited by selling vegetables directly to customers instead of to a big company.
pattern: profit by + gerund (financial)
Lien profited from her small online store by keeping her operating costs very low.
Investors who bought shares early profited when the company became publicly traded.
Theo profited from his invention by licensing the design to a large manufacturer.
- make money
informal; the everyday way to express this meaning
- earn
general term; does not necessarily imply a surplus over costs
- lose money
when spending exceeds income
文法句型
profit from + noun/gerund
profit by + gerund
用法筆記
Distinguish from Verb Sense 2 (DERIVE BENEFIT): this sense is specifically about making money, not about any general advantage. If you can replace "profited" with "made money" without changing the meaning, this is the right sense.
常見錯誤
2. to get a good result or an advantage for yourself by using a situation, a thing,
to get a good result or an advantage for yourself by using a situation, a thing, or another person's advice
Tariro profited greatly from the advice her uncle gave her about starting a business.
pattern: profit from + noun phrase
You can profit by watching how experienced chefs prepare each dish carefully.
pattern: profit by + gerund
The students profited from the extra tutoring sessions before their final exams.
Eli profited by selling his old bicycle right before the start of the school year.
Defne profited through her connection with local farmers who supplied fresh ingredients.
- benefit from
the most natural modern alternative; interchangeable in most contexts
- take advantage of
can have a negative connotation of exploiting something unfairly
- gain from
emphasises the acquisition of a concrete or abstract benefit
- lose out on
to fail to get a benefit that was available
文法句型
profit from + noun/gerund
profit by + gerund
profit through + noun
用法筆記
This is the most common verb usage. 'Profit from' is the most frequent preposition; 'profit by' usually precedes a gerund ('by doing something'); 'profit through' is rarer and used with a noun expressing a means or channel.
常見錯誤
3. to give someone an advantage or be helpful to them in a particular situation — f
to give someone an advantage or be helpful to them in a particular situation — for example, when knowing a language profits you in your career
Knowing two languages will profit you greatly when you look for a job abroad.
transitive: profit + direct object
It profits a business little to treat its workers poorly, even if costs are lower.
structure: it profits + noun + to-infinitive
The early training profited the team when they faced a strong opponent in the final.
His years of teaching experience profited him during the difficult parent meeting.
Honesty profits a person more than clever tricks in the long run of life.
文法句型
profit + someone
it profits someone to do something
用法筆記
This is a formal transitive use. It is uncommon in casual conversation; 'benefit' is more natural in everyday speech. Frequently appears in proverbs and formal writing.