benefitted

Benefitted is the past tense and past participle form of the verb benefit. The core meaning is to provide an advantage, improvement, or profit to someone or something. As a regular verb, it forms its participles by adding the suffix -ed to the base form benefit.

Spelling variations and regional usage. In American English, benefited is the standard spelling for both the past tense and past participle. In British English and some other varieties, benefitted is also used and is considered an accepted variant. Some style guides acknowledge both spellings, with beneficial and benefit forming consistent variants in each dialect. The present participle form follows the corresponding regional pattern: benefiting (US) versus benefitting (UK).

Usage notes. When choosing between benefited and benefitted, consider the dominant convention of your audience or publication. In international or mixed contexts, benefited is often favored for consistency with other -ed verbs in American spelling, while benefitted may be preferred in contexts that align with British spelling. Examples: The policy benefited many residents. The charity benefitted from the donations.

Etymology and related forms. The word originates from the verb benefit, which comes from Old French benefite and ultimately from Latin bene facere, meaning to do well. Related forms include benefit (noun), beneficial (adjective), and benefiting (present participle).

See also. benefit, beneficial, benefiting, advantages.