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

In 2024, Short expanded her wildfire archive to include more information useful to investigators, such as weather, elevation, population density, and a fire’s timing. —Sachi Mulkey, WIRED, 25 Jan. 2025

The day-by-day guide to his concerts and recording sessions is extremely useful. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025

See the Glossary of Spelling Bee Terms and our Tips and Tricks for more useful information on Spelling Bee. —New York Times Games, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

King does foresee the device being useful for annual physicals or check-up appointments, such as for patients on thyroid medications or blood thinners that may need lab work ahead of dose adjustments. —John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 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