DictionaryAI

useful

adjective
SayYOOS-ful/ˈjusfl̩/UK/ˈjuːsfl̩/AUS/ˈjʉːːsfəl/

2 meanings of useful

Practice

  1. 1
    helpfuladjective
    Able to be put to practical use or to bring some benefit.

    The instructions proved useful when I assembled the bookshelf.

    She offered several useful suggestions during the planning meeting.

    UsageA useful tip (not incorrect: an useful); useful for a task or for doing it, useful to a person.

    Similarserviceable, utilitarian, handy

    Oppositeuseless, unusable

  2. 2
    quite skilledadjectivecolloquialUKbritish
    Competent to a fair degree at some activity, most often a sport.

    Their new signing is a useful midfielder who can also cover at full-back.

    She was a useful cricketer at school and still turns out for the local club in summer.

    UsageModest praise, mostly in sport: a useful midfielder is capable and worth picking, though not usually a star.

    Similardecent, capable, competent, able

    Oppositehopeless, poor

Practice

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Origin

Formed from "use" combined with the suffix "-ful".

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact