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.
Their three global growth outlooks are helpful because they’re based on how long Hormuz stays blocked.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
"Ultimately, any form of stigma related to someone's body or their health choices is not helpful," Standen said.
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
After a month of emails, I managed to uncover two helpful souls.
From Slate • May 3, 2026
And, I’m like, let’s give a list of all the things that I don’t do because you know what’s helpful?
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
“Thanks for that helpful and reassuring wisdom, Dad,” she mutters, shoving her Spanish vocab list deep into her bag.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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.
