available

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Able to be used, bought or obtained.

   Grammar: Before or after a noun: available tickets; tickets are available.

   Patterns

   • available to someone
   • available for something

   Tickets are available online.

   The report is available to all staff.

   Rooms are available for the weekend.

2. 2adjectiveafter a verb

   Free to meet, talk or do a task.

   Grammar: Used about people: Is she available?

   Patterns

   • available to do something
   • available for something

   Is the doctor available this afternoon?

   I'm not available on Friday.

   She is available to answer questions.

3. 3adjectiveafter a verbinformal

   Not in a romantic relationship.

   Grammar: Informal use about a single person.

   Patterns

   • be available

   He is still available, you know.

   She said she's not available.

   Are they both available?

Word forms

Common combinations

readily available

Help is readily available.

freely available

The data is freely available.

make available

The school made laptops available to students.

widely available

The vaccine is widely available.

no longer available

That model is no longer available.

Synonyms and how they differ

obtainable

Obtainable is more formal and focuses on being possible to get.

accessible

Accessible stresses being easy to reach or use.

free

Free is simpler and used for people with time, but is ambiguous with cost.

on hand

On hand means nearby and ready for use.

Opposites

Word family

availability noun

the state of being available

avail verb

as in avail yourself of: to make use of

unavailable adjective

not able to be used or reached

Commonly confused: available or valuable?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “available”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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