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

Synonyms

• actionable
• applicable
• applicative
• applied
• functional
• practicable
• practical
• serviceable
• ultrapractical
• usable
• useable
• workable
• working

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

My colleague, Jim Handy, who co-authors a report on emerging non-volatile memory with me, created a useful representation of a hierarchy of digital storage and memory technology, shown below. —Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Inter’s fluidity in possession might be particularly useful when looking to bypass Bayern Munich’s relentless press. —Mark Carey, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

Despite all of the current drawbacks with Meta's new model family, Willison is optimistic that future releases of Llama 4 will prove more useful. —ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025

But Danielle Coffey, president of the News Media Alliance, questioned whether Google is in a position to know what’s useful to publishers. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025

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