Avail Meaning
/əˈveɪl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo turn to the advantage of.
verbTo be of service to.
Sentence Examples
You had better avail yourself of this opportunity.
Crying is of no avail.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
She tried to open the jammed door but all her efforts were to no ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He tried to fix the broken computer, but to no ____, so he gave up.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English availen (“to be of use”), from Old French a (“to”) + vail from valoir (“to be worth”), from Latin valere (“to be worthy, strong”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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, […]"
— 2021 July 25, Stephen Burgen, “Departures at high-profile Barcelona museum provoke anger in art world”, in The Observer, →ISSN:
"All of this avail’d not, for whoe’er he be
That tells my faults, I hate him mortally; […]"
— 1713, Alexander Pope, The Wife of Bath Her Prologue, translation of original by Geoffrey Chaucer:
"Words avail very little with me, young man."
— 1817, Sir Walter Scott, Rob Roy:
"All day long to Mung cry out the Priests of Mung, and yet Mung harkeneth not. What, then, shall avail the prayers of All the People?"
— 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 21:
"With this initiative, Valucard becomes an open system that is not limited to point of sale (POS) transactions, but now avails cash to its holders in various locations nationwide."
— 2004 November 16, Nik Ogbulie, “Decongesting the Banking Floors”, in This Day, archived from the original on 22 Jan 2009:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She tried to open the jammed door but all her efforts were to no ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He tried to fix the broken computer, but to no ____, so he gave up.