helpful

1 of 2

adjective

help·​ful ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce helpful (audio)
Southern often ˈhep-
also ˈheəp-
Synonyms of helpfulnext
: of service or assistance : useful
a helpful neighbor
helpful advice
just trying to be helpful
helpfully
ˈhelp-fə-lē How to pronounce helpful (audio)
adverb
helpfulness noun

helpfulness

2 of 2

noun

help·​ful·​ness
-fəlnə̇s
plural -es
: the quality or state of being helpful
the … helpfulness of reference books—C. B. Shaw

Synonyms of helpful

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Adjective

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Examples of helpful in a Sentence

Adjective A helpful neighbor shoveled our walkway. a kind and helpful person
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
But knowing exactly how much fentanyl is present in a sample would be extremely helpful both for drug users and the healthcare workers treating them. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 Certain oils can soften dry, flaky skin and help reduce moisture loss, which may be especially helpful if your scalp feels tight or dry after shampooing. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 Subscription creep can sneak up on you, so having a tool that keeps them all in one place can be helpful. — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026 The one who says the model is a helpful autocomplete that hallucinates one time in ten gets nothing. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for helpful

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see help entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of helpful was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing helpful

Rhymes for helpful

See All Rhymes for helpful

Browse Nearby Words

helper T cell
helpful
helpfulness
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Cite this Entry

“Helpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helpful. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

helpful

adjective
help·​ful ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce helpful (audio)
: providing help
a helpful neighbor
helpfully
-fə-lē How to pronounce helpful (audio)
adverb
helpfulness noun
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