useful

[ yoos-fuhl ]

/ ˈyus fəl /

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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.

Nearby words

use-by date, useable, usecc, used, used to, useful, usefully, useless, uselessly, usenet, user

Origin of useful

First recorded in 1585–95; use + -ful

SYNONYMS FOR useful

1, 2 profitable, efficacious, beneficial.

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ANTONYMS FOR useful

1, 2 useless.

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Related forms

use·ful·ly, adverbuse·ful·ness, nounun·use·ful, adjectiveun·use·ful·ly, adverb

un·use·ful·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for usefulness

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
Their usefulness may be regarded as a warrant of a wider adoption of them.
The High School Failures|Francis P. Obrien
She jeopardises her life immediately and she generally deteriorates her capacity for future usefulness.
Race Improvement : or, Eugenics : a Little Book on a Great Subject|La Reine Helen Baker
It had fallen in soft sand and, although damaged to some extent, had not lost its usefulness.
Motor Matt's Peril, or, Cast Away in the Bahamas|Stanley R. Matthews
I can only hope that the translation will justify itself by its usefulness to the legal profession.
Criminal Psychology|Hans Gross
Of course a year's experience would increase my usefulness, but why not acquire it where the brethren want me?
The Story of a Life|J. Breckenridge Ellis

British Dictionary definitions for usefulness

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

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

useful

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of useful

SYNONYMS FOR useful

ANTONYMS FOR useful

Related forms

Examples from the Web for usefulness

British Dictionary definitions for usefulness

useful

adjective

noun

Derived Forms