avail

American  

[uh-veyl] / əˈveɪl /

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.

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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.

idioms

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

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

avail British  

/ əˈveɪl /

verb

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

2. to make use of to one's advantage

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noun

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

avail More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing avail

• to no avail

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Other Word Forms

• availingly adverb
• unavailed adjective

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”

Example Sentences

I have attempted to talk to my local Social Security office about this, but to no avail.

From MarketWatch

He spent months sending out résumés for full-time jobs to no avail.

From The Wall Street Journal

She also went to the airport hoping to buy flights in person, to no avail.

From The Wall Street Journal

Alexander Hamilton supposedly stood on the steps and begged the mob to turn back, to no avail.

From The Wall Street Journal

Several attempts have already been made to break the impasse, but to no avail.

From The Wall Street Journal