useful

[yoos-fuh l]

See more 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.

Origin of useful

First recorded in 1585–95; use + -ful

Related formsuse·ful·ly, adverbuse·ful·ness, nounun·use·ful, adjectiveun·use·ful·ly, adverbun·use·ful·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for useful on Thesaurus.com

1, 2. profitable, efficacious, beneficial.

Antonyms

1, 2. useless.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for usefulness

Contemporary Examples

These non-attitudes, or baseless opinions, can drag the data away from a position of reliability or usefulness.
The Polls Are In: ISIS Is Outside Your Window
Jack Holmes
October 6, 2014
But other law enforcement groups rallied to justify the usefulness of MRAPs.
SWAT Lobby to Congress: Hands Off Our Mine-Resistant Vehicles!
Tim Mak
August 21, 2014
The show also provides several moments for Dorian to prove his usefulness to Kennex.
‘Almost Human’ Review: A Dystopian Future That We’ve Seen Before
Chancellor Agard
November 17, 2013
CARS AND TRAINS Plenty were ready to dismiss the usefulness of strange horse-less transportation methods when they first emerged.
10 Overdue Historical Retractions
Nina Strochlic
November 15, 2013
In effect, he noticed the usefulness of our own inner guide.
10 Advice Books for Graduates, From the School of Life
Roman Krznaric, John-Paul Flintoff
May 7, 2013

Historical Examples

Therefore my reluctance to be driven from my place of usefulness.
Biography of a Slave
Charles Thompson
(b) How does fish compare with meat as to its usefulness as food?
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3
Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
The Trainer's admonition seemed like a cry to a cyclone, as void of usefulness.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
“It would destroy my usefulness,” continued the other hotly.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
The promise of usefulness which it then gave has been more than fulfilled.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII)
John Greenleaf Whittier

British Dictionary definitions for usefulness

useful

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 Formsusefully, 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

Word Origin and History for usefulness

useful

adj.

1590s, from use (n.) + -full. Related: Usefully; usefulness.

useful

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}useful

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for usefulness

Contemporary Examples

These non-attitudes, or baseless opinions, can drag the data away from a position of reliability or usefulness.

But other law enforcement groups rallied to justify the usefulness of MRAPs.

The show also provides several moments for Dorian to prove his usefulness to Kennex.

CARS AND TRAINS Plenty were ready to dismiss the usefulness of strange horse-less transportation methods when they first emerged.

In effect, he noticed the usefulness of our own inner guide.

Historical Examples

Therefore my reluctance to be driven from my place of usefulness.

(b) How does fish compare with meat as to its usefulness as food?

The Trainer's admonition seemed like a cry to a cyclone, as void of usefulness.

“It would destroy my usefulness,” continued the other hotly.

The promise of usefulness which it then gave has been more than fulfilled.

useful

Word Origin and History for usefulness

useful

adj.

Origin of useful