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

Bobba said he knew these people weren’t actually receiving benefits and tried to tell Musk so, to no avail, according to SSA officials.

From Salon

He searched for grants or support available, to no avail.

From BBC

Foster said he had tried several things in practice to boost his players early in games, to no avail.

From Los Angeles Times

She has hired attorneys in both countries to press their case and even offered to cover the costs of ICE agents escorting them to the Canada-US border, to no avail.

From BBC

I tried to change her mind, to no avail.

From Los Angeles Times