helpful

adjective

help·​ful ˈhelp-fəl 

Southern often ˈhep-

also ˈheəp-

: of service or assistance : useful

a helpful neighbor

helpful advice

just trying to be helpful

helpfully

ˈhelp-fə-lē 

adverb

helpfulness noun

Synonyms of helpful

• useful

Examples of helpful in a Sentence

A helpful neighbor shoveled our walkway.

a kind and helpful person

Recent Examples on the Web

But knowing exactly how much fentanyl is present in a sample would be extremely helpful both for drug users and the healthcare workers treating them. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Certain oils can soften dry, flaky skin and help reduce moisture loss, which may be especially helpful if your scalp feels tight or dry after shampooing. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Subscription creep can sneak up on you, so having a tool that keeps them all in one place can be helpful. — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

The one who says the model is a helpful autocomplete that hallucinates one time in ten gets nothing. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see help entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing helpful

• come in useful/helpful

Rhymes for helpful

• unhelpful

Kids Definition

helpful

adjective

help·​ful ˈhelp-fəl 

: providing help

a helpful neighbor

helpfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

helpfulness noun