usefulness

noun

use·​ful·​ness ˈyüs-fəl-nəs How to pronounce usefulness (audio)
: the quality of having utility and especially practical worth or applicability

Examples of usefulness in a Sentence

the well-known usefulness of thick phone books as seat boosters for short diners
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.
While the usefulness of AI features may be debatable, years of OS and software support are not, which gives Samsung the decisive edge. PC Magazine, 12 July 2025 Teens recognized the usefulness of navigation apps, but simultaneously acknowledged the risk of accidents associated with taking their eyes off the road. What People Are Saying Robbins told Newsweek that distracted driving endangers young people, but also the traveling public around them. Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025 These settings are ideal for astrophotography, while the overall focal range further increases its usefulness when shooting a range of night sky compositions. James Abbott, Space.com, 23 May 2025 Aplin tells New Scientist that the research points to the usefulness of future efforts to monitor electrostatic discharges from satellites. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for usefulness

Word History

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of usefulness was in 1618

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Usefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usefulness. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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