Benefiting

Benefiting is the present participle form of the verb benefit. It refers to the act of receiving an advantage or the act of providing advantages to someone or something. When used as a verb, it can describe a causal effect, as in "The new policy is benefiting workers." In participial phrases, it can modify a noun, for example, "a program benefiting low-income families." The related noun benefit denotes an advantage, a payment, or a service, while a person who gains from something is a beneficiary. In legal and financial contexts, beneficiaries are those entitled to profits, assets, or insurance proceeds; benefactors are those who confer benefits.

Usage notes: English generally forms the -ing participle as "benefiting" in both American and most British usage, while "benefitting" is a less common variant found in some sources and older texts.

Etymology: The word benefit comes from Old French benefice and Latin beneficium, built from bene "well" + facere "to do." The -ing form inherits this origin as the present participle of the verb.

See also: benefit, beneficiary, benefactor, beneficial.