availed; availing; avails
: to produce or result in as a benefit or advantage : gain
His efforts availed him nothing.
see also:
Examples of avail in a Sentence
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
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
Recent Examples on the Web
For this is a bright light to which all should avail themselves at least once.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Kimbrel availed himself to anyone who wanted to talk.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
In these short vignettes and bursts typed largely on the computer, the arcs availed themselves.
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
In the spa, guests can choose from an array of massage or beauty services or avail themselves of the fitness center with cardio equipment, punching bags, and free weights.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for avail
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Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Kimbrel availed himself to anyone who wanted to talk.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
In these short vignettes and bursts typed largely on the computer, the arcs availed themselves.
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
In the spa, guests can choose from an array of massage or beauty services or avail themselves of the fitness center with cardio equipment, punching bags, and free weights.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for avail
Cite this Entry
“Avail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avail. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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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