available
- 1Able to be obtained, used, or called on; at someone's disposal.
The full report is available for download on the company website.
Only a few rooms remain available during the busy summer season.
UsageOften available for a purpose or to people: available for download, available to all staff.
Similarobtainable, accessible, free, open
Oppositeunavailable, inaccessible
- 2Free to meet someone, take a call, or begin a romantic relationship.
The manager isn't available right now, but she can call you back this afternoon.
After his divorce, he told friends he was finally available again.
UsageA polite, indirect way to ask to speak to someone: Is the manager available? Make yourself available means arrange to be free or reachable.
Similarfree, single, unattached
Oppositebusy, unavailable
- 3Having enough power, force, or efficacy to achieve a purpose; effective.
Note
An older strength of the word, close to avail itself: something available here actually works. When E. J. Guerin's Mountain Charley (1861) arms herself "to make this plan available," she means to make the plan effective, not obtainable. Modern readers easily misread such lines.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- Available has an older, archaic sense meaning effective or availing. en.wiktionary.org
- E. J. Guerin wrote Mountain Charley. iucat.iu.edu
- Mountain Charley was first published in 1861. iucat.iu.edu
- In the quoted passage, available means effective. en.wiktionary.org
Less common meaning
- 4Legally valid; having force and effect in law.
Practice
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Origin
From Middle English 'available' (also spelled 'avayllable' or 'avayleable'), formed from 'avail' plus the suffix '-able'.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact
- Available comes from Middle English available, with the variant spellings avayllable and avayleable, and is formed from avail plus -able. en.wiktionary.org