as in use
the capacity for being useful for some purpose
although I appreciate the concern, your help would be of little avail in this situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to benefit
to provide with something useful or desirable
all your begging will not avail you in the least
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of avail
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Soon enough, one of the fans notices her and looks up, prompting Eilish to bang on the window, which unleashes a tsunami of screams from the groggy crowd as other early-risers spring across the parking lot to get in on the rare pre-show avail.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Dec. 2025
John Ruwitch, NPR, 30 Mar. 2026
No word on which culinary option he — or his former Condé Nast colleague, Anna Wintour of Vogue, attending for the first time — availed themselves of.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avail
Noun
Teams traded quality looks to no avail, up until Henry Phillips finished off a savvy feed from Ryan Kisiel at the backdoor with 59 seconds left in the frame.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Soon enough, one of the fans notices her and looks up, prompting Eilish to bang on the window, which unleashes a tsunami of screams from the groggy crowd as other early-risers spring across the parking lot to get in on the rare pre-show avail.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
After availing himself of a free milk tea from Qwen, delivery driver Li Hao went back to his preferred AI.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 30 Mar. 2026
No word on which culinary option he — or his former Condé Nast colleague, Anna Wintour of Vogue, attending for the first time — availed themselves of.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avail
Noun
-
Detectives booked Avon Owens, 18, and another unidentified 18-year-old for murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a murder on April 10, 2026.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Elegant folding design for easy storage in bags, backpacks or purses with a lightweight yet durable frame for everyday use.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Compared with the year-ago period, the segment benefited from a 14% increase in management and other fees, driven by an increase in assets under supervision (AUS).—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Many people can benefit from adding fennel to their diet.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But in reality, their usefulness extends far beyond de-fuzzing black pants.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Aside from its sheer usefulness, moss is also bewitchingly beautiful.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avail. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
