helpful

adjective

help·​ful ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce helpful (audio)
 Southern often  ˈhep-,
 also  ˈheəp-
: 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 Please continue to reach out and share new executive appointment news (CIO, CTO, CDO) and any graphics and stats that would be helpful to share with other IT leaders. John Kell, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Monitoring or managing one's blood sugar levels can be helpful for anyone, but doing so is critical for people with diabetes. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 Having some baseline knowledge is helpful to avoid damaging trees or burning syrup, Isselhardt says. Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 No matter your choice, you’re guaranteed a quick and helpful response from a real person. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 The Baby Dry diapers are also hypoallergenic, which can be helpful if your baby has sensitive skin. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 10 Mar. 2024 Excessive stock-market gains As another rule of thumb helpful in identifying bubbles, Colas evaluates how quickly assets double in value over a short period. The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 In part, of course, that is because the word itself is not desperately helpful in the context of sports as a whole. Rory Smith, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 To expedite the process, TSA PreCheck is also a helpful tool to help speed through security lines. Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'helpful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near helpful

Cite this Entry

“Helpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helpful. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

helpful

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

More from Merriam-Webster on helpful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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