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

In my experience, realistic expectations are more useful than dramatic promises. — Scott Keever, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Nevertheless, the work has set off a major search for factors in blood that change with age and may eventually prove therapeutically useful. — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

That could make fleets of relatively inexpensive autonomous vessels useful for building persistent datasets across parts of the ocean that are poorly monitored today. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026

This approach, known as succession planting, is particularly useful with cilantro because the plant can have such a short window for harvesting leaves. — Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 15 Sep. 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