avail
Americanverb (used with object)
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avails,
present (3rd person singular)
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availed,
past participle, past
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availing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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avails,
present (3rd person singular)
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availed,
past participle, past
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availing
present participle
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to be of use; have force or efficacy; serve; help.
His strength did not avail against the hostile onslaught.
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to be of value or profit.
noun
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advantage; use; efficacy; effective use in the achievement of a goal or objective.
His belated help will be of little or no avail.
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Archaic. avails, profits or proceeds.
idioms
verb
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to be of use, advantage, profit, or assistance (to)
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to make use of to one's advantage
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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availsimple
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availssimple
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have availedperfect
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has availedperfect
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am availingprogressive
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are availingprogressive
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is availingprogressive
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have been availingperfect progressive
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has been availingperfect progressive
Past
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availedsimple
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had availedperfect
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was availingprogressive
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were availingprogressive
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had been availingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of avail
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English availe, from a- a- 2 + Old French vail-, noun stem of valoir “to be worth,” from Latin valēre “to be strong, be well, be of worth”
Explanation
To avail means to take advantage of an opportunity, the way you'd be crazy not to avail yourself of a chocolate milkshake on Free Milkshake Day at your local ice cream parlor. Sometimes avail is used to mean "help," and in that case it can be used in a sentence like "Nothing seemed to avail me, not even winning the lottery." More often though, avail shows up in the company of "oneself of," as in the sentence, "I hope you avail yourself of my advice, because I'm very wise." It might seem like a complicated way to use a verb, but it's one you should avail yourself of if you're hoping to impress someone.
Vocabulary lists containing avail
Grade 12, List 1
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"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass
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"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
She scoured the pages of Sontag’s “On Photography” to no avail.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
It really helped Max with his hitting and would most definitely help Pages with the untimely ABS challenges he makes to no avail in the early innings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Real Madrid have tried to renew their attacker's contract and opened further talks with him on Monday - but, as of yet, to no avail.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
But there’s a lot to be said about emotional security, a lower tax bill, shared expenses and healthcare insurance, among other advantages that married couples avail of.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Penelope folded her arms and squinted, then made a telescope out of her cupped hands, but to no avail.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Bryan Cranston’s movie career avails him of some variety, but on Showtime’s “Your Honor” he plays another version of a good man pushed to commit evil for the sake of protecting his family.
From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2024
Jean sometimes wears men’s clothes and avails herself of male privileges, taking Eliza on long walks down to the docks and into the surrounding woodlands.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 8, 2022
Shaun Grant’s script rarely, if ever, avails itself of such riches; instead, the narration and dialogue teem with outlaw-movie clichés.
From New York Times ● Apr. 23, 2020
Meanwhile, he avails himself of the pastry-sample plate.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 21, 2018
Every man of any just principles, who has no interest to warp his judgment, will at once admit, that the prisoners ought to have had all the avails of their overwork.
From Recollections of Windsor Prison; Containing Sketches of its History and Discipline with Appropriate Strictures and Moral and Religious Reflection by John N. Reynolds
As a bonus, I’d learn a few things while she availed herself of uninterrupted free time, which wasn’t really free, since I’d often hear a running vacuum or dishes clanking in the sink.
From Salon ● Jan. 30, 2026
In doing so, Adams also availed himself of millions of dollars in public matching funds.
From Slate ● Jan. 25, 2025
It said more than 4,500 households availed of emergency temporary accommodation over the weekend.
From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2024
Yet they hardly availed themselves of the city’s busy night life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2024
We took turns washing up in the wood-paneled bathroom, then availed ourselves of the dining menu.
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
An interesting gauntlet was thrown down this week when the parent of Fox News agreed to acquire Roku, availing itself of a post-cable platform to compete for news dominance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
I’m availing myself of the bar that’s already open.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2024
"This time frame represents a broad enough range to demonstrate climate change, while also availing of the most recent reliable data that covers both the climate change and extremism dimensions for the country."
From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 2024
For 20 years, Thomas benefited from Huizenga's attention as well, availing himself of the billionaire's fleet of aircraft and other luxuries.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2023
General Draper being informed of this, thought himself justified in availing himself of stratagem.
From An Historical View of the Philippine Islands, Vol II (of 2) Exhibiting their discovery, population, language, government, manners, customs, productions and commerce. by Martinez de Zuniga
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
