helpful

adjective

help·​ful ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce helpful (audio)
Southern often ˈhep-
also ˈheəp-
Synonyms of helpfulnext
: of service or assistance : useful
a helpful neighbor
helpful advice
just trying to be helpful
helpfully adverb
helpfulness noun

Examples of helpful in a Sentence

A helpful neighbor shoveled our walkway. a kind and helpful person
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The mesh upper will keep air flowing through your feet throughout the day, and the slip-resistant rubber outsole will be particularly helpful on slick cobblestone streets. Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2026 During a stretch of four consecutive finishes of sixth or better before Bristol, Gibbs impressed his teammates by speaking up in debriefs with helpful advice. ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 And so, conversation, compassion and curiosity are always more helpful than resentment and judgment. R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026 Students might consider this a case of simply looking up information—which a majority of them rate as the most helpful and acceptable use of LLMs in surveys—but typing a question and relaying the response is not the same as thinking about it. ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for helpful

Word History

Etymology

see help entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of helpful was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Helpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helpful. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

helpful

adjective
help·​ful ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce helpful (audio)
: providing help
a helpful neighbor
helpfully adverb
helpfulness noun

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