stood to profit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stood to profit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is likely to gain or benefit from a particular situation or action. Example: "By investing in the new technology, the company stood to profit significantly in the coming years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

And its mentors recommended investments from which they stood to profit.

The New York Times

But J. Crew stood to profit only from the sale of its clothes.

The New York Times

These surgeons were among a group of doctors who stood to profit financially from the disk's success.

The New York Times

Subprime mortgages bundled into securities often won high scores from ratings agencies that stood to profit in a busy market.

The Economist

More to the point, some of his main financial backers stood to profit fabulously from the Misicuni Dam's construction.

The New Yorker

A gentleman named Leonard Schwartz is chairman of Global Wholesale Tobacco, which stood to profit handsomely from the legislation.

The New York Times

"Who stood to profit from the attacks?" asked Ibrahim A. L. Hadban, a bearded political science professor.

The New York Times

They stood to profit financially if the Prodisc succeeded, according to confidential information from a patient's lawsuit settled last year.

The New York Times

Like Mr. Kerviel, whose trading bears a strong resemblance to that of Mr. Adoboli, there's no evidence that Mr. Adoboli stood to profit directly from his trading.

The New York Times

The investigators, from the Government Accountability Office, said that Medicare beneficiaries were often unaware that their doctors stood to profit from the use of radiation therapy.

The New York Times

Then you got a mortgage loan from a bank, which stood to profit if you made your payments and risked loss if you did not.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stood to profit" when emphasizing a potential gain resulting from a particular action or situation. It's particularly effective when highlighting conflicts of interest or motivations.

Common error

Avoid using "stood to profit" when the benefit is non-financial. While "profit" can imply any advantage, it's primarily understood as monetary gain. For non-financial benefits, consider "stood to benefit" or "stood to gain" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stood to profit" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone was in a position to gain financially from a particular action or event. It often implies a potential benefit or advantage, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stood to profit" is a versatile verb phrase that signifies the potential for financial gain resulting from a specific situation or action. As Ludwig confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in news and media contexts. It’s crucial to understand that while "stood to profit" often carries a negative connotation, implying potential conflicts of interest, it can also simply describe a legitimate opportunity for financial gain. Remember to be precise in describing how the entity "stood to profit", and consider using alternatives like "stood to gain" for broader, non-financial benefits. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "stood to profit" to enhance clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stood to gain

Focuses on the general idea of obtaining something beneficial, not necessarily monetary profit.

stood to benefit

Emphasizes the positive outcome or advantage received.

was set to profit

Indicates a predetermined or highly likely expectation of profit.

stood to earn

Specifically highlights the act of acquiring profit through effort or work.

stood to reap benefits

Suggests a harvest or collection of positive results over time.

stood to acquire

Emphasizes the act of coming into possession of something, including profit.

stood to accumulate wealth

Focuses on the gradual increase of financial assets.

had the potential to profit

Highlights the possibility of gaining profit, without implying certainty.

was in a position to profit

Suggests that someone was favorably placed to receive profits, emphasizing the situation.

stood to make a killing

Informal expression indicating the potential for substantial profit.

FAQs

How can I use "stood to profit" in a sentence?

You can use "stood to profit" to indicate that someone was in a position to gain financially from a situation. For example, "The company executives "stood to profit" from the merger."

What's a more formal alternative to "stood to profit"?

A more formal alternative would be "stood to gain". While "stood to profit" is acceptable, "stood to gain" has a broader implication and can apply to both financial and non-financial benefits.

Is it always negative when someone "stood to profit"?

Not necessarily. While it's often used in contexts where there might be a conflict of interest or unethical behavior, ""stood to profit"" can simply describe a situation where someone was in line to receive financial benefits legitimately.

Which is correct, "stood to profit" or "stand to profit"?

"Stood to profit" is the past tense form, used to describe a situation that occurred in the past. "Stand to profit" is the present tense form, used for current or future possibilities. The choice depends on the time frame you're referring to.