useful

[yoos-fuhl]

adjective

1. being of use or service; serving some purpose; advantageous, helpful, or of good effect.

   a useful member of society.

   Synonyms: beneficial, efficacious, profitable
   Antonyms: useless

2. of practical use, as for doing work; producing material results; supplying common needs.

   the useful arts; useful work.

   Synonyms: beneficial, efficacious, profitable
   Antonyms: useless

useful

/ ˈjuːsfʊl /

adjective

1. able to be used advantageously, beneficially, or for several purposes; helpful or serviceable

2. informal,  commendable or capable

   a useful term's work

noun

1. informal,  an odd-jobman or general factotum

Other Word Forms

• usefulness noun
• usefully adverb
• unuseful adjective
• unusefully adverb
• unusefulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of useful¹

First recorded in 1585–95; use + -ful

Example Sentences

Scientists are uncovering surprising ways to turn discarded materials -- from dried beet pulp to coconut fibers processed by millipedes -- into useful resources.

Read more on Science Daily

"This finding helps us to better understand the history of the Earth's magnetic field and is useful in interpreting data from the geological past," says co-author Andy Jackson, Professor of Geophysics at ETH Zurich.

Read more on Science Daily

This results in more useful and accurate results.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With my attention reset, I can return to my desk for a genuinely useful second shift.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It's useful for the SNP leadership to show those gathering in Aberdeen for the party's 91st annual get-together that their primary cause has not been forgotten.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• advantageous 
• appropriate 
• convenient 
• effective 
• favorable 
• fruitful 
• good 
• handy 
• helpful 
• practical 
• pragmatic 
• profitable 
• proper 
• suitable