availed; availing; avails
: to produce or result in as a benefit or advantage : gain
His efforts availed him nothing.
Examples of avail in a Sentence
Verb
In such a Hobbesian world, grand idealistic designs will avail the United States nothing. Nor will a quest for American dominance in the name of the good.
—
Laura Secor, New York Times Book Review, 26 June 2005
Soon middle-class girls were slipping into their starched white shirtwaists, marching into a place of business … and eventually standing up as private secretaries, bank tellers, accountants, and managers. So many, in fact, availed themselves of this new opportunity that by 1900 nearly 75 percent of all clerical workers in America were women (Bliven puts the number, in 1888, at 60,000); and for decades the typist and her machine were both called "typewriters."
—Arthur Krystal, Harper's, December 2002
One comes away from the book stunned by the remarkable energy and willingness to resist that so many demonstrated but haunted by the recognition of how little that resistance availed.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2002
Our best efforts did not avail.
all your begging will not avail you in the least
Noun
It seemed to be the national dish, as it appeared on every menu. It is a spicy pork or veal stew with tomatoes and onions and a little sour cream on top. It was fabulous, and I'm dying to get the recipe. I've spent hours looking for it on the internet to no avail.
—Linda Walker, Cook's Country, June 1995
In the 14th century the porcelain from China made its way westward along trade routes to Europe's rich and royal. The artisans of Europe tried to duplicate the Chinese formula and process, but to no avail.
—Hattie Clark, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 1987
although I appreciate the concern, your help would be of little avail in this situation
Laura Secor, New York Times Book Review, 26 June 2005
Soon middle-class girls were slipping into their starched white shirtwaists, marching into a place of business … and eventually standing up as private secretaries, bank tellers, accountants, and managers. So many, in fact, availed themselves of this new opportunity that by 1900 nearly 75 percent of all clerical workers in America were women (Bliven puts the number, in 1888, at 60,000); and for decades the typist and her machine were both called "typewriters."
—Arthur Krystal, Harper's, December 2002
One comes away from the book stunned by the remarkable energy and willingness to resist that so many demonstrated but haunted by the recognition of how little that resistance availed.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2002
Our best efforts did not avail.
all your begging will not avail you in the least
Noun
It seemed to be the national dish, as it appeared on every menu. It is a spicy pork or veal stew with tomatoes and onions and a little sour cream on top. It was fabulous, and I'm dying to get the recipe. I've spent hours looking for it on the internet to no avail.
—Linda Walker, Cook's Country, June 1995
In the 14th century the porcelain from China made its way westward along trade routes to Europe's rich and royal. The artisans of Europe tried to duplicate the Chinese formula and process, but to no avail.
—Hattie Clark, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 1987
although I appreciate the concern, your help would be of little avail in this situation
Recent Examples on the Web
Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Both men availed themselves of substitutes.
—Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Derbez also recalled mentioning his hits in Hollywood meetings to little avail in the past.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for avail
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Verb
Better yet, Target shoppers were able to avail themselves of convenience service such as same-day delivery through Shipt.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Both men availed themselves of substitutes.
—Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
Other clips show the duo snoozing together, laying on the couch, and Queenie trying to get Walt to play (but to little avail, of course).
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Derbez also recalled mentioning his hits in Hollywood meetings to little avail in the past.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for avail
Cite this Entry
“Avail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avail. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
avail
1 of 2 verb
: to be of use or help
avail
2 of 2 noun
: help toward reaching a goal
effort of no avail
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