avail

[ uh-veyl ]

/ əˈveɪl /

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.

Words nearby avail

av, av node, av., ava, avadavat, avail, avail oneself of, available, available light, avalanche, avalanche lily

Idioms for 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for availing

“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
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
The Company were not long in availing themselves of this privilege.
The Great Company|Beckles Willson
Once more at Rome, Violante thought of availing herself of the Jubilee and making a full confession and restitution.
The Browning Cyclopdia|Edward Berdoe

Availing ourselves of our friend's intimate affection, we pledge our own, as to be relied upon in every emergency.
The Marble Faun, Volume II.|Nathaniel Hawthorne
Captain Stoddard was there, and Auguste Chouteau, availing himself of every opportunity to forward the enterprise.
The Conquest|Eva Emery Dye
Dick followed her into the inner corner, where he was probably not slow in availing himself of the privilege offered.
Under the Greenwood Tree|Thomas Hardy

British Dictionary definitions for availing

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

Idioms and Phrases with availing

avail

In addition to the idiom beginning with avail

avail oneself of

also see:

to no avail

avail

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Words related to avail

Words nearby avail

Idioms for avail

Origin of avail

OTHER WORDS FROM avail

Examples from the Web for availing

British Dictionary definitions for availing

verb

noun

Derived forms of avail

Word Origin for avail

Idioms and Phrases with availing