avail

[uh-veyl]

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.

Idioms

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for availing

account, service, advantage, usefulness, applicability, fitness, appropriateness, satisfy, profit, suffice, work, serve, benefit, meet, answer, fulfill, fill

Examples from the Web for availing

Contemporary Examples of 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
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

Historical Examples of availing

Unfortunately had an engagement which prevented my availing myself of it.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, February 18, 1893
Various
But he showed no intention of availing himself of these capabilities.
Evenings at Donaldson Manor
Maria J. McIntosh
Of course the corporal had no thought of availing himself of the permission so accorded.
The Free Lances
Mayne Reid
Gilbert lost no time in availing himself of the permission accorded to him.
Tom, The Bootblack
Horatio Alger
Oowikapun saw his opportunity, and was quick enough in availing himself of it.
Oowikapun
Egerton Ryerson Young

British Dictionary definitions for availing

avail

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 Formsavailingly, 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

Word Origin and History for availing

adj.

"advantageous," early 15c., present participle adjective from avail (v.).

avail

c.1300, availen, apparently a French compound formed in English from Old French a- "to" (see ad-) + vailen "to avail," from vaill-, present stem of valoir "be worth," from Latin valere (see valiant). Related: Availed; availing. As a noun, from c.1400.

Idioms and Phrases with availing

avail

In addition to the idiom beginning with avail

avail oneself of

also see:

to no avail