useful

adjective

use·​ful ˈyüs-fəl How to pronounce useful (audio)
Synonyms of usefulnext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Inside, one side of the suitcase features a zipped compartment—useful for keeping toiletries and smaller items contained safely—while the other has a robust compression system with a notably sturdy strap and weighty steel buckle. Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026 Often, this is a useful guideline, and limits, in general, are very much the friend of the fiction writer, but there are certain stories that benefit from a sense of instability. Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026 Many clients who are running things through AI are coming up with pages and pages of data the lawyer must then sift through to see if anything is useful. Wendy Hickey, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026 For homeowners, spring is a useful time to review records for mortgage interest, property taxes, home office expenses, if applicable, and receipts for major home improvements that may be worth keeping for future tax purposes. Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for useful

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of useful was in 1595

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Cite this Entry

“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/useful. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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

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