helpful

1 of 2

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

helpfulness

2 of 2

noun

help·​ful·​ness

-fəlnə̇s

plural -es

: the quality or state of being helpful

the … helpfulness of reference books

—C. B. Shaw

Synonyms of helpful

Adjective

• useful

Examples of helpful in a Sentence

Adjective

A helpful neighbor shoveled our walkway.

a kind and helpful person

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Antidepressants can be helpful for moderate to severe depression, but they are typically not warranted for mild depression, as the side effects might outweigh any potential benefits. — Andrew McLean, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

And to delve into a book written about him, The Man in the Red Bandana, the Rinaldi book, that's helpful for our students, watching that ESPN documentary, that's helpful for our students. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Sign that’s only revisited under the cover of darkness is helpful only for monitoring deer with trail cameras. — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026

In the first, AI is a helpful sidekick for workers, and its impact is roughly on par with the internet. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see help entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

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