useful

adjective

use·​ful ˈyüs-fəl 

1

: capable of being put to use

especially : serviceable for an end or purpose

useful tools

2

: of a valuable or productive kind

do something useful with your life

usefully

ˈyüs-fə-lē 

adverb

Examples of useful in a Sentence

Does anyone have any useful suggestions?

It can be useful to know CPR.

The Internet is useful for finding information quickly.

She has become one of the team's most useful players.

Why don't you do something useful with your life?

Recent Examples on the Web

But if you’re just getting started in AI, those useful lists can start to feel overwhelming. —Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Tesori found that to be incredibly useful when composing the musical’s sound. —David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024

Of course, some are just weird, like the Grampy Turnips, little old vegetable men planted in the soil who prattle on with unsolicited advice that’s occasionally useful and mostly waffle about. —Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024

For those interested in investing in this segment of the market, technical analysis is useful in determining which of the two stocks may be better positioned. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing useful

• come in useful
• come in useful/helpful
• make oneself useful
• prove (to be) useful
• useful idiot
• useful life

Kids Definition

useful

adjective

use·​ful ˈyüs-fəl 

1

: capable of being put to use : usable

useful scraps of material

2

: having practical value

a useful invention

usefully

-fə-lē 

adverb

usefulness noun