Definition

1. Noun:

   • Use, benefit, or advantage: "Avail" refers to something that is helpful, beneficial, or of use in achieving a purpose. It is often used in formal or literary contexts.

2. Verb:

   • To be of use, value, or profit; to help: As a verb, "avail" means to provide a benefit or to be useful in a given situation.
   • To make use of; to take advantage of: When used reflexively ("to avail oneself of"), it means to use an opportunity or resource for one's benefit.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • His efforts were of no avail. (His efforts were useless/unsuccessful.)
  • She checked every store, but to no avail. (She checked every store, but without success.)

• Verb:

  • Nothing could avail the dying patient. (Nothing could help or benefit the dying patient.)
  • You should avail yourself of this opportunity to learn. (You should take advantage of this opportunity to learn.)

Advanced Usage

• "Of no/little avail": useless; of no help or benefit.

  • All our protests were of little avail. (All our protests were largely ineffective.)

• "To little avail": with little or no success or benefit.

  • He argued his point, but to little avail. (He argued his point, but it was mostly unsuccessful.)

• "Without avail": without success; fruitlessly.

  • They searched without avail for the missing document. (They searched unsuccessfully for the missing document.)

Variants and Related Words

• Available (adj): able to be used or obtained; at someone's disposal.

  • The manager is not available at the moment. (The manager cannot be contacted or seen at the moment.)

• Availability (n): the state of being able to be used or obtained.

  • The availability of clean water is crucial. (The fact that clean water can be obtained is crucial.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Use, benefit, advantage, help, profit.
• Verb: Help, benefit, profit, serve, assist.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Avail oneself of: This is the primary phrasal construction. It means to make use of an opportunity or resource.
  • Students are encouraged to avail themselves of the library's resources. (Students are encouraged to use the library's resources.)

Related Idioms

• To no avail: without any success or positive result.

  • He tried to fix the computer, but to no avail. (He tried to fix the computer, but it was unsuccessful.)

• Of what avail?: (Rhetorical/Literary) Of what use or benefit is it?

  • Of what avail is wealth without health? (What is the use of wealth if you do not have health?)

Noun

1. a means of serving
   • of no avail
   • there's no help for it

Verb

1. take or use
   • She helped herself to some of the office supplies
2. be of use to, be useful to
   • It will avail them to dispose of their booty
3. use to one's advantage
   • He availed himself of the available resources