helpful
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- helpfully adverb
- helpfulness noun
- overhelpful adjective
- overhelpfully adverb
- overhelpfulness noun
- quasi-helpful adjective
- quasi-helpfully adverb
- unhelpful adjective
- unhelpfully adverb
Etymology
Origin of helpful
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.
What is most helpful to sustaining those expansionary periods now and in the future?
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
Avello concludes, "Everything that we're doing is only important and helpful if we talk about it."
From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2026
“Across multiple trainings, we have had attendees say or put in the chat, ‘These recommendations would be helpful for anyone,’” Maddox said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
"We have had people message us and say to us on the day as well what a difference it has made and how helpful they have found it," she added.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
As if striving to say something even less helpful, New York’s top civil defense official said, “As far as shelters for the majority of our citizens is concerned—of course, we don’t have any.”
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
