Avail

/əˈveɪl/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive, often reflexive) To turn to the advantage of. [(chiefly) with of].

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive, often reflexive) To turn to the advantage of. [(chiefly) with of]
2. (transitive) To be of service to.
3. (transitive) To promote; to assist.
4. (intransitive) To be of use or advantage; to answer or serve the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object.
5. (India, Africa, elsewhere proscribed) To provide; to make available.
6. (India, Africa, elsewhere proscribed) To use or take advantage of (an opportunity or resource).
7. Effect in achieving a goal or aim; purpose, use (now usually in negative constructions).
8. (now only US) Proceeds; profits from business transactions.

Example Sentences

I availed myself of the opportunity.

It asserts that the museum has clear protocols for dealing with any form of discrimination or discontent, which it says [Tanya] Barson never availed herself of, […]

Artifices will not avail the sinner in the day of judgment.

The plea in court must avail.

This scheme will not avail.

Medicines will not avail to halt the disease.

All of this avail’d not, for whoe’er he be That tells my faults, I hate him mortally; […]

Words avail very little with me, young man.

Synonyms for avail

Antonyms for avail

Related Words

Word Forms

• avails
• availing
• availed
• more avail
• most avail

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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