usefulness

noun

use·​ful·​ness ˈyüs-fəl-nəs 

: the quality of having utility and especially practical worth or applicability

Synonyms of usefulness

• use
• avail
• utility

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

Today’s class of Arab comics agrees that this mode of comedy, while necessary at the time, has outlived its usefulness. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Hilo users can generate a report of their data in the app to share with their healthcare provider, though there are debates about the current usefulness of this data. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2026

Once a measure becomes the target, its usefulness rapidly declines because people change their behavior to improve the score. — Michael Edmondson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Chiron turns retrograde in your 6th House of Work and Wellness, stirring old sensitivity around productivity, usefulness, or the pressure to keep pushing when your system is clearly asking for adjustment. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing usefulness

• outlive one's usefulness