useful

[ yoos-fuhl ]
/ ˈyus fəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR useful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

being of use or service; serving some purpose; advantageous, helpful, or of good effect: a useful member of society.
of practical use, as for doing work; producing material results; supplying common needs: the useful arts; useful work.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of useful

First recorded in 1585–95; use + -ful

OTHER WORDS FROM useful

Words nearby useful

use up, use-by date, usecc, used, used to, useful, useless, usenet, user, user experience, user group
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to useful

profitable, good, helpful, effective, convenient, fruitful, practical, appropriate, favorable, proper, pragmatic, suitable, handy, advantageous, utile, applied, brave, commodious, fit, functional

Example sentences from the Web for useful

British Dictionary definitions for useful

useful
/ (ˈjuːsfʊl) /

adjective

able to be used advantageously, beneficially, or for several purposes; helpful or serviceable
informal commendable or capablea useful term's work

noun

Australian informal an odd-jobman or general factotum

Derived forms of useful

usefully, adverbusefulness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012