avail

[uh-veyl]

verb (used with object)

1. to be of use or value to; profit; advantage.

   All our efforts availed us little in trying to effect a change.

verb (used without object)

1. to be of use; have force or efficacy; serve; help.

   His strength did not avail against the hostile onslaught.

2. to be of value or profit.

noun

1. advantage; use; efficacy; effective use in the achievement of a goal or objective.

   His belated help will be of little or no avail.

2. Archaic.,  avails, profits or proceeds.

avail

/ əˈveɪl /

verb

1. to be of use, advantage, profit, or assistance (to)

2. to make use of to one's advantage

noun

1. use or advantage (esp in the phrases of no avail, to little avail )

Other Word Forms

• availingly adverb
• unavailed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of avail¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of avail¹

C13 availen, from vailen, from Old French valoir, from Latin valēre to be strong, prevail

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. avail oneself of, to use to one's advantage.

   They availed themselves of the opportunity to hear a free concert.

More idioms and phrases containing avail

• to no avail

Example Sentences

She struggles against the grip of the trolls, but to no avail.

Read more on Literature

He had searched every one of those sickeningly quaint villages, with their happy yodelers and endless mugs of hot chocolate, but to no avail.

Read more on Literature

She said another lock appeared to have been tampered with "using a crowbar or similar tool", but to no avail.

Read more on BBC

For decades, cybersecurity professionals have told lawmakers about the need for minimum, comprehensive cybersecurity standards across all sectors, to little avail.

Read more on Barron's

Since the shutdown began, members of the Republican-controlled US Senate have repeatedly voted - to no avail - in favour of the same short-term funding bill to reopen the government with no luck.

Read more on BBC