helpful
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of helpful
Explanation
If you are inclined to assist others in any situation, you are a helpful person. Your actions can also be called helpful, like your helpful habit of doing the dishes every night. If you want to be helpful, you find ways to make things easier for others, like holding the door for them. Things can also be helpful — maps, cell phones, dictionaries, and holders for wet umbrellas. Taking good notes and setting your alarm to go off early are helpful tips for days when you have big tests. A discussion is helpful if it teaches you something new or gives you ideas for doing something better.
Vocabulary lists containing helpful
Beowulf vocabulary
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Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 3
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Words to Describe a Teacher
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Also helpful: the Bank of Japan’ decision to raise interest rates by 25 basis points this week to 1% and the simultaneous decision to halt its government bond purchases starting in April 2027.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
Most hyperscalers shifted to capital-intensive from asset-light business models only recently, so historical data isn’t all that helpful.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026
Onstage, he added, “I can’t think of a TV show that’s been as helpful or as healing.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate says he turned down work as a pundit at the World Cup because he did not think it would be "helpful" to the side's chances.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
Rader had reason to be helpful to Bobby.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
