available - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Middle English available, avayllable, avayleable, equivalent of avail +‎ -able.

available (comparative more available, superlative most available)

  1. Such as one may avail oneself of; capable of being used for the accomplishment of a purpose.
    We have an available candidate.
  2. Readily obtainable.
    The list shows the available products in the store.
  3. (law) Valid.
    This is an available plea.
  4. (archaic) Having sufficient power, force, or efficacy to achieve the purpose; availing, effective.
    • 1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 22:
      One thing however, I finally settled upon—and that was, if I ever did meet him that I would shoot him precisely as I would shoot a mad dog. In order to make this plan available, I had […] armed myself with a revolver.
    • 1897, Henry Banroft, Proceedings - Institution of Mechanical Engineers, canal Boat Propulsion:
      The different navigations she had to pass through for this purpose were such that only an independent method of propulsion would be available.
  5. Free to meet someone, speak on the telephone, enter a romantic relationship, or the like.
    I have a question for you when you're available.
    Hi, this is Mark Smith calling. Is your mother available?
    I asked her if she was available, but she said she had a boyfriend.
    • 2024 July 28, Matthew Futterman, “Steven van de Velde brings yet another moral hazard to the Olympics”, in nytimes.com‎[1]:
      Van de Velde did not make himself available to journalists. “He wants to rest his mind,” Immers explained.

capable of being used

readily obtainable

law: valid — see also valid

having sufficient power or efficacy

free to meet someone, speak on the telephone, enter a romantic relationship or the like