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

Whether prediction markets could aggregate useful data for forecasting wildfires remains an open question. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

One of Ramboll’s innovations is to address reactive power, a component of electricity that does not perform useful work but is essential in maintaining electrical and magnetic fields and controlling voltage levels. — Drew Robb, IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2026

Toppin said that the telework bill has served as a useful advocacy tool for the administration and the Legislature. — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026

But things like cyber insurance could be a useful addition to protect against things like ransomware and data breaches. — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 16 July 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