useful

adjective

use·​ful ˈyüs-fəl How to pronounce useful (audio)
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 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 No matter the question, Carolyn’s readers always show up with thoughtful and useful advice. Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 For those watching outside Russia, the pageant provides Putin with a useful fig leaf—albeit not a very convincing one to anyone with critical-thinking skills—to claim that his rule has been approved by the popular will. Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024 So, at both ends of the financial spectrum, American currency arguably has never been less useful and, for some, more onerous. María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Still, the ability for developers to bring their apps directly to iPhone users in the EU without having to go through the App Store or another third-party store will be useful for some willing to put up with the tight restrictions. Tom Warren, The Verge, 12 Mar. 2024 The risk for the royal family, experts said, is that Catherine’s manipulation of the photo will cast doubt over other news and images released by them, depriving the royals of a useful channel to reach younger people. Mark Landler, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 There are several useful methods to treat the condition, including fixing your sleep hygiene and engaging in cognitive behavioral therapy specifically for insomnia. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Help your 6-year-old learn more about STEM, with fun gifts that teach skills in these useful areas. Erica Puisis, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 Chatbots may be useful for resolving basic inquiries, but their effectiveness wanes as problems become more complex. John F. Wasik, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'useful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of useful was in 1595

Dictionary Entries Near useful

Cite this Entry

“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/useful. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

useful

adjective
use·​ful ˈyüs-fəl How to pronounce useful (audio)
1
: capable of being put to use : usable
useful scraps of material
2
: having practical value
a useful invention
usefully adverb
usefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on useful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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