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

In their hands it became a weapon to justify their agendas — or at least a useful tool to expand their movements.

From Salon

The defendant, of Old School Close in Banks, is charged with three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, possession of a knife, production of biological toxin, ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.

From BBC

These include collecting and communicating information useful to an enemy, namely Iran; collecting the names of Special Forces soldiers that would be useful for terrorism and perpetrating a bomb hoax at his army barracks.

From BBC

He’s also a veteran lawmaker with legislative skills that could prove useful to Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

They were just a useful punching bag for fascist leaders, who needed a hate object to dangle in front of their deluded supporters.

From Salon

Related Words

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