usefulness

noun

use·​ful·​ness ˈyüs-fəl-nəs How to pronounce usefulness (audio)
: the quality of having utility and especially practical worth or applicability

Examples of usefulness in a Sentence

the well-known usefulness of thick phone books as seat boosters for short diners
Recent Examples on the Web Buy Now on Mohawk General Store: $485 Photo : Mr Porter Purdey Town and Country Double-Breasted Camel Hair-Blend Coat Never underestimate the usefulness of a good camel-hair coat. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024 This should involve an analysis of how the values are used in decision-making (i.e., their usefulness in guiding the process and alignment with the outcome). Christoph Knitter, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 In general, and specifically on Alderney, when OT laborers were found to be living under conditions not conducive to their continued usefulness, the Third Reich leadership tried to course-correct. Rebecca Panovka, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 This makes these chips the only socketed desktop processors with an NPU available, something that is of limited usefulness currently but which may become more important if/when Microsoft adds more Windows AI and machine learning features that rely on local processing rather than cloud processing. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 8 Jan. 2024 No car updates with the speed, frequency or usefulness of a phone. John Hayes, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The success of CCBs so far is sparking efforts to widen the program, but what’s really needed is an overhaul of the 64-year-old master plan for higher education, which has outlived its usefulness. Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024 The fact that most LLMs are trained primarily on English-language text and lack cultural nuance has been a persistent criticism of the technology and its accuracy and usefulness across cultures and regions. Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024 Then, during Israel’s May 2021 war in Gaza, Egypt leveraged its contacts in Hamas, the armed group that controls the territory, to help negotiate a cease-fire, again proving its usefulness. Vivian Yee, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'usefulness.' 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

1618, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of usefulness was in 1618

Dictionary Entries Near usefulness

Cite this Entry

“Usefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usefulness. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.

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