avail

Pluralavails (some meanings)

Formsavails, availing, availed

1. 1
   no resultnoununcountable

   Use or success in reaching a goal, usually in phrases that say something did not work.

   We looked for the lost cat all night, but to no avail.

   Shouting at the printer was of no avail, so I called for help.

   Similareffect, use, help, benefit

   Note
2. 2
   make use ofverbreflexivetransitive

   To use a chance or something offered so that it helps you.

   You can avail yourself of the free parking behind the library.

   She availed herself of every chance to practice her Spanish.

   Note
3. 3
   verbintransitive

   To be useful, or to work well enough to get the result you want.

   Nothing we said could avail, and she left the party anyway.

   Kind words availed where shouting had failed.

   Similarwork, succeed, help, serve

   Oppositefail

4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To help someone or be useful to them.

   Getting angry will not avail you, so stay calm.

   All her money availed her little when she fell ill.

   Similarhelp, benefit, serve

5. 5
   free (informal)adjectivecolloquialabbreviationclipping

   Short form of available. People say it in casual talk.

   Are you avail this Saturday? We need one more player.

   The blue shirt is still avail in your size.

   Note
6. 6
   get (a service)verbAfricaIndiatransitive

   To give or offer something, or to use a chance or service that is offered.

   Farmers can avail cheap loans from the local bank.

   The state has availed clean water to every village in the district.

   Similarprovide, use

   Note
7. 7
   press meetingnounUScountable

   A meeting where a politician or official answers questions from news reporters.

   The mayor will hold a short avail with reporters after the meeting.

   Reporters waited outside the hotel for the senator's avail.

   Similarbriefing

   Note
8. 8
   ad slotnouncountable

   A time slot for a TV ad, or a group of ad slots offered to a business.

   The station had just one avail left during the big game.

   She called the TV station to ask about an avail for her bakery's ad.

   Note
9. 9
   casting noticenounBritishcountable

   A message, not a promise, that an actor is free to take a job.

   Her agent sent the producers an avail for two weeks in July.

   She gave the film company an avail, but nothing is signed yet.

   Note
10. 10
    business profitsnounUScountable or uncountable

    The money or profit that comes from selling or doing business.

    The avails of the yard sale paid for new library books.

    The brothers shared the avails of the family store equally.

    Similarproceeds, profits, earnings

    Note
11. 11
    oil supplynounusually plural

    A supply of oil that is ready and easy to get.

    The company had more oil avails than its refinery could handle.

    Crude avails went up when the new wells started pumping.

    Note

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