resourceful
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of resourceful
Explanation
If you are interviewing employees for your new pet store, you may want to ask if they are resourceful. If they are, it means they are good at problem solving, and this could come in very handy. Think of resourceful people as “full of resources,” or tools for coming up with solutions. They adapt well to new or difficult situations and they are able to think creatively. For example, if a snake gets loose in the pet store, a resourceful person will be able to figure out how to lure it back into its cage again.
Vocabulary lists containing resourceful
Power Suffix: -ful
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Positive Adjectives to Describe People
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Meanwhile, Wallis’ Angie is simply a resourceful single mother striving to get home to her 6-year-old daughter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
But, many argue, the country remains resilient and resourceful.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
They seem to understand intuitively that a corps of manifold resources is more resourceful.
From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026
“Retail investors have proven they are smart, resourceful, and capable of managing their own exposure,” said Anthony Denier, U.S. chief executive of Webull.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
Supreme Court ordered Duke to carve up his tobacco octopus, but the resourceful businessman had already diversified into textiles and electric power generation.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
