available

[ uh-vey-luh-buhl ]

adjective

1. suitable or ready for use; of use or service; at hand:

   I used whatever tools were available.

   Synonyms: handy, usable, accessible

2. readily obtainable; accessible:

   available resources.

3. (of a person) free or willing to do something; not occupied:

   I’m sorry, Mrs. Clarke is not available to speak with you right now.

4. not involved in a romantic or sexual relationship; single:

   Why would you tell Rachel that I’m available when you know how serious I am about Tina?

5. Archaic.
   1. efficacious, advantageous, or profitable.
   2. legally valid.

available

/ əˈveɪləbəl /

adjective

1. obtainable or accessible; capable of being made use of; at hand
2. derogatory.
   politics suitable for public office, usually as a result of having an inoffensive character

   Smith was a particularly available candidate

Derived Forms

• aˌvailaˈbility, noun
• aˈvailably, adverb

Other Words From

• a·vail·a·bil·i·ty [uh, -vey-l, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], a·vail·a·ble·ness noun
• a·vail·a·bly adverb
• in·ter·a·vail·a·ble adjective
• un·a·vail·a·ble adjective
• un·a·vail·a·ble·ness noun
• un·a·vail·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of available¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; avail, -able

Example Sentences

As for the federal authorities, they have made themselves available but the clergy have not requested special protection.

From The Daily Beast

Maxwell was not available for comment but has described all claims against her as “untrue” and “obvious lies.”

From The Daily Beast

Maxwell was not available for comment describes all claims against her as “untrue” and “obvious lies.”

From The Daily Beast

Local life in these places is not defined by their sports team or by their natural beauty—by things only available locally.

From The Daily Beast

Take fiscal year 2013, the last year the finalized data is available.

From The Daily Beast

Altogether, it seems that not more than one-third of our fast diminishing total are available for actual fighting purposes.

From Project Gutenberg

All possibility of a general increase of wages depended on the relation of available capital to the numbers of the working men.

From Project Gutenberg

Go carefully over the film with an oil-immersion lens, using a mechanical stage if available.

From Project Gutenberg

And there may be other works whose abstracts are available to the ambitious student.

From Project Gutenberg

Sixteen locomotives; sixteen engineers, and sixteen firemen would be needed—each and every one the best available.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accessible
• applicable
• convenient
• feasible
• free
• handy
• possible
• usable
• vacant