avail
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
To be of use, value, or advantage.
The act of making use of something or the benefit derived from it. As a noun, it refers to the benefit or use of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most common in negative phrases ('to no avail') or in formal/legal contexts ('avail oneself of'). The noun form is largely fossilized in the phrase 'of no/little avail'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical, but frequency may be slightly higher in formal British English.
Connotations
Formal, somewhat archaic, or legalistic in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; mostly found in writing and formal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
avail (oneself) of [opportunity, service, offer]be of no avail to [person]it avails [person] nothingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to no avail”
- “of no avail”
- “avail oneself of”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal offers: 'Employees may avail themselves of the company pension scheme.'
Academic
Found in literary or historical analysis: 'His protests were of no avail against the tide of opinion.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used for emphasis: 'I tried everything, but it was to no avail.'
Technical
Occurs in legal documents: 'The tenant shall have the right to avail himself of the common areas.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He attempted to avail himself of the university's counselling services.
- All our efforts availed us little in the end.
American English
- You should avail yourself of the early-bird discount before it expires.
- Her arguments availed nothing against the board's decision.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I called him many times, but it was to no avail.
- The medicine was of no avail for her headache.
- Despite his extensive campaigning, his efforts proved to be of little avail.
- You are advised to avail yourself of the legal advice provided.
- The manager's intervention availed the company nothing, as the deal had already collapsed.
- Scholars may avail themselves of the archive's unpublished manuscripts for their research.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A veil' hides something, but to 'avail' is to make use of something that is not hidden—it's available.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE IS A TOOL (to be used)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct equivalent of 'доступный' (available).
- Confusing the verb 'avail' with the adjective 'available'.
- Overusing in contexts where simpler words like 'use' or 'help' are better.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'avail' as a noun in isolation (e.g., 'I got no avail from it' - incorrect).
- Using without reflexive pronoun where needed ('I will avail the opportunity' - incorrect).
- Confusing with 'available' ('The information is avail' - incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'avail' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely in modern English. It is almost always part of a phrase like 'of no avail' or 'to no avail'.
Using it without the reflexive pronoun in the phrase 'avail oneself of'. For example, 'I will avail the offer' is incorrect; it should be 'I will avail myself of the offer'.
Yes, it is considered formal and is more common in written English, legal contexts, and formal speech than in everyday conversation.
'Avail' is primarily a verb (and a rare noun) meaning 'to be of use'. 'Available' is an adjective meaning 'able to be used or obtained'.