helpful

Meaning

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Giving help or being useful, whether a person or a thing.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a helpful guide, or She is helpful.

   Patterns

   • helpful to someone
   • helpful for something
   • helpful in doing something
   • helpful to do something

   The librarian was very helpful.

   That was a helpful tip.

   It is helpful to make a list.

Word forms

Common combinations

extremely helpful

The staff were extremely helpful.

helpful advice

Thanks for the helpful advice.

helpful hint

Here's a helpful hint.

helpful to someone

The map was helpful to us.

find it helpful

I find it helpful to rest.

Synonyms and how they differ

useful

Useful is mostly for things, while helpful is natural for people too.

obliging

Obliging is formal and about willingness to do a favor.

beneficial

Beneficial is formal and about good effects over time.

Opposites

Word family

help verb

to make something easier

helpfully adverb

in a useful way

helpfulness noun

the quality of being helpful

unhelpful adjective

not useful

Commonly confused: helpful or helping?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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