Word family noun profit profitability profiteering profiteer adjective profitable ≠ unprofitable profitless verb profit profiteer adverb profitably profitlessly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishprofitableprof‧it‧a‧ble /ˈprɒfətəbəl $ ˈprɑː-/ ●●○ adjective GETproducing a profit or a useful result OPP unprofitable The advertising campaign proved very profitable. a highly profitable business a profitable afternoon —profitably adverbExamples from the Corpus
profitable• To finance the delays, the company took on a series of routine programming and trouble-shooting projects, which proved consistently profitable.• Many small hospitals are struggling to stay profitable.• It also is, very often, more profitable.• It's only in the last year that our business has become profitable. Before that we were just managing to cover our costs.• It is a profitable business but there is evidence of some slack time, perhaps this is a learning curve effect.• a profitable business• I had a very profitable conversation with Jack today.• We don't sell children's clothes any more - it wasn't profitable enough.• Whether such a small mass payback is economically profitable is far from obvious.• Observance of reasonable guidelines designed to encourage increased and profitable participation by Network members in cross-border transactions.• Co. in San Francisco said oil companies had been expected to turn in a highly profitable quarter.• The investments will only be profitable when the following conditions apply:.highly profitable• Indeed, the area serviced by the vast majority of our members remains highly profitable.• The aim is to produce beers that are sterile, have a long shelf life and are highly profitable.• Tuft denies Catania's contentions, although he concedes the company borrows heavily and is not highly profitable.• But they found no trace of the highly profitable illegal cargo that it was supposed to be carrying.• If you are seeking a highly profitable instant business, you will probably be disappointed-it does not exist.• Co. in San Francisco said oil companies had been expected to turn in a highly profitable quarter.• Slavery is, then, under certain conditions, a highly profitable system of exploitation.From Longman Business Dictionaryprofitableprof‧it‧a‧ble /ˈprɒfətəbəlˈprɑː-/ adjectiveFINANCE1producing a useful resultI thought the meeting was very profitable.2producing a profitInnovation has made Sidek one of Mexico’s most profitable companies.Recycling automotive plastics is profitable and good for the environment.Mutual Benefit’s group health business has been its most profitable line (=activity). 