capitalize on

phrasal-verb
UK: /ˌkæpɪtəlaɪz ɒn/
US: /ˌkæpɪtəlaɪz ɑːn/

  1. To use a situation to your own advantage.

    1. The shop tried to capitalize on the mistake and charged me double.
    2. Some companies capitalize on people's fear of germs to sell cleaning products.

  2. To take advantage of something; to exploit something for profit or gain.

    1. We should capitalize on their inexperience.
    2. The team needs to capitalize on the opportunities they are creating during the match.

Synonyms

leverage exploit take advantage of
capitalize on intransitive-verb

  1. To benefit from an opportunity; to make the most of something.

    1. Let's capitalize on this good weather.
    2. They failed to capitalize on their early lead and eventually lost the game.
capitalize on transitive-verb

  1. To take full advantage of (something); turn something into an advantage.

    1. We must capitalize on our strengths.
    2. The company intends to capitalize on the growing demand for eco-friendly products.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "capitalize on" in English means: To use a situation to your own advantage., To take advantage of something; to exploit something for profit or gain..

The phonetic transcription of "capitalize on" is /ˌkæpɪtəlaɪz ɒn/ in British English and /ˌkæpɪtəlaɪz ɑːn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "capitalize on": leverage, exploit, take advantage of.

Example usage of "capitalize on": "The shop tried to capitalize on the mistake and charged me double.". More examples on the page.