avail
avail Lexical Profile
avail Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Use, benefit, advantage, or practical effectiveness (chiefly used in phrases such as 'to no avail' or 'of little avail').
"The technicians worked through the night to repair the server, but their efforts were to no avail."
• verb
To use or take advantage of an opportunity or available resource (used reflexively with 'of').
"Employees are encouraged to avail themselves of the company's professional development programs."
To help, benefit, or be of value or service to someone.
"All his wealth and influence availed him nothing when the court handed down its verdict."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a noun, 'avail' is almost exclusively used in formal negative or questioning phrases such as 'to no avail' or 'of little avail'. As a verb meaning to take advantage of an opportunity, it requires a reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'of' (e.g., 'avail oneself of').
• Rhymes for avail
Word Origin & Etymology
Middle English, formed from Old French a- (from Latin ad, 'to') and valoir ('to be worth' or 'have power'), from the Latin verb valere ('to be strong or worthy').