useful

adjective

use·​ful ˈyüs-fəl 

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

ˈyüs-fə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of useful

• applicable
• practical
• applied
• applicative

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

The courses, Cristerna said, would have been useful in learning how to negotiate brand deals, maximize monetization opportunities and cultivate and keep an audience. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Toilet seats designed for American Standard models can also have some useful features, such as a slow-close function that protects the bowl from damage. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

His shoot-first mindset adds a useful dimension to Tottenham’s attack, particularly when lining up alongside Dominic Solanke, a natural facilitator, and Kudus, who was Tottenham’s primary creative outlet in the frontline before his injury. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Armored tanks first played a useful role in helping break through entrenched battlefield lines during the final years of World War I more than a century ago. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing useful

• come in useful
• come in useful/helpful
• make oneself useful
• prove (to be) useful
• useful idiot
• useful life

Kids Definition

useful

adjective

use·​ful ˈyüs-fəl 

1

: capable of being put to use : usable

useful scraps of material

2

: having practical value

a useful invention

usefully

-fə-lē 

adverb

usefulness noun