These words refer to some desirable good that can be given, acquired or earned. Benefit is the most general of these, referring to any kind of good, however, acquired, material or otherwise: lessons designed to be of benefit to growing minds; the benefits accorded to one of his lofty position. Advantage is narrower in scope than benefit , since it can suggest more strictly either material benefits or things won in competition against an opponent: all the advantages of suburban living; a naturally fortified hill that would give them the advantage over the enemy. The word, or course, can function more abstractly and without any implication of depriving someone else of the same benefit : all equally free to take advantages of our tradition of free speech and respect for dissent. Favour may suggest being given the advantage in a competition: ruling in favour of the plaintiff; unequal odds that made the battle sure to come out in the aggressor’s favour . The word, however, most often refers to benefits that result from securing the approval of others: a new product seeking public favour ; audiences that looked with favour on his plays. The word can also be used to indicate narrow self-interest: acting only in his own favour .

Like benefit , gain can suggest an intangible good given or acquired at no one’s expense: a law that resulted in a clear gain for civil liberties; a gain in technical competence over his last word. More commonly, however, the word suggests material acquisition: capital gains ; greedy for gain . Profit is even more restricted to material or monetary acquisition: realizing a ten-per-cent profit on each sale; speculators eager for a quick profit . Sometimes, however, the word can refer to gains outside the context of money-making: a book anyone can read with profit .