avail

[ uh-veyl ]

/ əˈveɪl /

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See synonyms for: avail / availed / avails on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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)

to be of use; have force or efficacy; serve; help: His strength did not avail against the hostile onslaught.

to be of value or profit.

noun

advantage; use; efficacy; effective use in the achievement of a goal or objective: His belated help will be of little or no avail.

avails, Archaic. profits or proceeds.

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Idioms about avail

avail oneself of, to use to one's advantage: They availed themselves of the opportunity to hear a free concert.

Origin of avail

1250–1300; Middle English availe, equivalent to a-a-² + vaile<Old French vail- (stem of valoir) <Latin valēre to be of worth

OTHER WORDS FROM avail

a·vail·ing·ly, adverbun·a·vailed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use avail in a sentence

I had been auditioning generally to no avail for Nickelodeon and Disney Channel type shows, where I was either too unconventional or untraditional to get any of those jobs.
How ‘Freaks and Geeks’ went from misfit dramedy to cult classic, as told by its cast and creators: ‘People just like it so much that it thrusts itself from the grave’|Sonia Rao|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
A recent report by Wired, for example, detailed how many women were spinning their wheels engaging with Poshmark in the hopes of making money from their closets, to little avail.
Curtsy, a clothing resale app aimed at Gen Z women, raises $11 million Series A|Sarah Perez|January 20, 2021|TechCrunch
For the better part of the last year, public health officials have been advising people to wear a mask over their noses and mouths—sometimes to little avail.
When are two masks better than one for preventing COVID-19?|Tara Santora|January 20, 2021|Popular-Science
“There is a fear of police and availing yourself of police protection,” said Clara Long, a researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Woman Who Says She Was Held Captive for 10 Years Feared Deportation|Caitlin Dickson|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

By becoming attuned to the beauty industry, men are now openly availing themselves of the same opportunities afforded to women.
Makeup for Men Is on the Rise—and No Longer a Taboo|Alessandra Codinha|May 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But it seems the Middletons are not averse to availing of some of the perks that membership of the Firm confers.
James Middleton - Should Royal Police Have Parked His Car?|Tom Sykes|October 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Availing himself of his legal experience, he fought the case determinedly and astutely.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
A Hindoo may have several wives; there are, however, but few examples of his availing himself of this privilege.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
"I scarcely dared to ask such a favour," replied the gentleman, eagerly availing himself of the permission thus accorded.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue
“I shall have great pleasure in availing myself of your kind offer for a day or two,” replied Newton.
Newton Forster|Captain Frederick Marryat
The enthusiastic amateur was not slow in availing himself of his artist friend's card and advice.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks

British Dictionary definitions for avail

avail

/ (əˈveɪl) /

verb

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

avail oneself of to make use of to one's advantage

noun

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

Derived forms of avail

availingly, adverb

Word Origin for avail

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with avail

avail

In addition to the idiom beginning with avail

avail oneself of

also see:

to no avail

avail

Idioms about avail

Origin of avail

OTHER WORDS FROM avail

Words related to avail

How to use avail in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for avail

Derived forms of avail

Word Origin for avail

Other Idioms and Phrases with avail