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Definition of helpful adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

helpful

adjective
 
/ˈhelpfl/
 
/ˈhelpfl/
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  1. able to improve a particular situation synonym useful
    • helpful advice/information
    • helpful hints/tips/suggestions/comments
    • Sorry I can't be more helpful.
    • helpful for somebody This approach may be helpful for people with very severe symptoms.
    • helpful to do something You may find it helpful to read this before making any decisions.
    • It would be helpful to have more detailed information.
    • helpful for somebody to do something It would be helpful for me to see the damage for myself.
    • helpful in doing something Role-play is helpful in developing communication skills.
    • helpful to somebody This final section will be particularly helpful to students.
    • The booklet should be very helpful to parents of children with dyslexia.
    Extra Examples
    • Thank you for all your helpful suggestions.
    • Here are some helpful hints for successful revision.
    • Our host gave us some helpful tips on how to behave.
    • This information would be extremely helpful for teenagers.
    • It would be more helpful for me to try to do it myself.
    • He was quite helpful on how to do the accounts.
    • Graphs are helpful in presenting the information.
    • The lifts will be helpful to the older patients.
    • The extra time proved helpful to everyone.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • prove
    • consider something
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    preposition
    • for
    • in
    • on
    phrases
    • friendly and helpful
    See full entry
  2. (of a person) willing to help somebody
    • I called the police but they weren't very helpful.
    • The staff couldn't have been more helpful.
    • She’s one of the most helpful people I know.
    Topics Personal qualitiesa2, Shoppinga2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • prove
    • consider something
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    preposition
    • for
    • in
    • on
    phrases
    • friendly and helpful
    See full entry
  3. opposite unhelpful
See helpful in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee helpful in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
sufficiently
adverb
 
 
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