useful

[ yoos-fuhl ]

adjective

1. being of use or service; serving some purpose; advantageous, helpful, or of good effect:

   a useful member of society.

   Synonyms: beneficial, efficacious, profitable

   Antonyms: useless

2. of practical use, as for doing work; producing material results; supplying common needs:

   the useful arts; useful work.

   Synonyms: beneficial, efficacious, profitable

   Antonyms: useless

useful

/ ˈjuːsfʊl /

adjective

1. able to be used advantageously, beneficially, or for several purposes; helpful or serviceable
2. informal.
   commendable or capable

   a useful term's work

noun

1. informal.
   an odd-jobman or general factotum

Derived Forms

• ˈusefulness, noun
• ˈusefully, adverb

Other Words From

• useful·ly adverb
• useful·ness noun
• un·useful adjective
• un·useful·ly adverb
• un·useful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of useful¹

First recorded in 1585–95; use + -ful

Example Sentences

The research team hopes that some years in the future, these fundamental experiments will perhaps result in the development of useful methods for treating cancer.

From Science Daily

While metagenomic analysis can offer useful insights, it might not be effective in uncovering interactions between different species.

From Science Daily

The results can be useful for preventing forest damages and financial losses related to the forest industry.

From Science Daily

Rohit Chandra, a political scientist and economic historian at the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, explained why governments like Mr. Modi’s find it useful to partner with private companies.

From New York Times

“Precious pieces of wood saved from other projects or found while hiking, ideas that came to us in the middle of the night and a desire to create beautiful, useful things.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• advantageous
• appropriate
• convenient
• effective
• favorable
• fruitful
• good
• handy
• helpful
• practical
• pragmatic
• profitable
• proper
• suitable