avail in English
- avail⇄adv. availingly.
- avail⇄avail, verb, noun.
- avail⇄expr. avail oneself of, to take advantage of; profit by; make use of; employ.
Ex. While traveling in France, heavailed himself of the opportunity to learn French. - avail⇄noun help; use; benefit.
Ex. Of what avail is crying over spilt milk? I complained at being scolded, but to no avail.
(SYN) profit, advantage, usefulness. - avail⇄v.i. to be of use or value; help.
Ex. Talk will avail little without work. - avail⇄v.t. to be of use or value to; help.
Ex. Your greatest efforts will not avail you now. Money will not avail you after you are dead.
(SYN) benefit.
avail in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
avail in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
avail in Konkani कोंकणी
avail in Marathi मराठी
avail in Sindhi سنڌي
avail in Urdu اُردُو
Avail
Part of Speech
Verb
Pronunciation
/əˈveɪl/ (uh-VAYL)
Definitions
- 1. To make use of (something beneficial); to take advantage of an opportunity or resource.
- 2. To benefit or profit from something.
- 3. (archaic) To help or assist.
Usage Examples
- She availed herself of the free Wi-Fi at the café.
- The company hopes to avail its new software to customers worldwide.
- He availed the opportunity to travel abroad for further studies.
- He availed of his friend's advice when making the decision.
Etymology
The word "avail" comes from the Old French "availler" (meaning to help or be of use), derived from the Latin "valere" (to be strong, to be worth). It entered the English language in the 14th century and originally meant "to be of service or value."
Synonyms
- Utilize
- Use
- Benefit
- Profit
- Make use of
- Take advantage of
Antonyms
- Waste
- Neglect
- Disadvantage
- Forfeit
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Avail | uh-VAYL |
| Spanish | Utilizar | oo-tee-lee-SAR |
| French | Profiter de | proh-fee-tay duh |
| German | Verwerten | fehr-VEHR-ten |
| Italian | Utilizzare | oo-tee-lee-TSAR-eh |
| Portuguese | Utilizar | oo-tee-lee-ZAR |
| Hindi | लाभ उठाना (Laabh uthana) | Laabh uthana |
| Bengali | লাভ করা (Laabh kora) | Laabh kora |
| Marathi | लाभ घेणे (Laabh gheṇe) | Laabh gheṇe |
| Telugu | లాభ పొందడం (Laabha pondadam) | Laabha pondadam |
| Tamil | பயன் பெறுதல் (Payan peruthal) | Payan peruthal |
| Gujarati | લાભ મેળવો (Laabh melvo) | Laabh melvo |
| Punjabi | ਲਾਭ ਉਠਾਉਣਾ (Laabh uthāuna) | Laabh uthāuna |
| Malayalam | ലാഭം നേടുക (Laabham neduka) | Laabham neduka |
| Kannada | ಲಾಭ ಪಡೆಯಲು (Laabha padeyalu) | Laabha padeyalu |
| Oriya | ଲାଭ ଉଠାନା (Laabha uthana) | Laabha uthana |
| Assamese | লাভ কৰা (Laabh kora) | Laabh kora |
| Arabic | يستفيد (Yastafeed) | Yas-ta-feed |
| Russian | Использовать (Ispol'zovat') | Is-pohl'-zo-vat' |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 利用 (Lìyòng) | Lee-yohng |
| Japanese | 利用する (Riyou suru) | Ree-yoh soo-roo |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
While the word "avail" generally has a consistent pronunciation across regions, some accents or dialects may slightly modify the stress or sound of the vowel in the first syllable. For example, in some British English accents, the "a" might be pronounced with a longer sound (ah-VAYL), whereas in American English, it tends to be shorter (uh-VAYL).
Historical Usage
Historically, "avail" was used in the context of benefiting from an opportunity or help, often seen in older texts referring to obtaining assistance or taking advantage of a chance. In medieval English literature, it was also used in relation to the exertion of effort to gain an advantage or benefit, especially in legal or formal contexts.
Cultural Nuances
In many cultures, "availing" an opportunity is seen as both a strategic and a practical approach to achieving success. The concept of availing oneself of opportunities is integral to modern career advice, particularly in competitive fields where one must recognize and seize opportunities for growth.
More Information
The word "avail" is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in professional settings. The phrase "avail oneself of" remains a formal way of saying "to take advantage of" or "to use." It has a longstanding presence in the English language, originating in the 14th century and remaining in regular use in both spoken and written forms to this day.