useless
gb/jˈusləs/ us/jˈusləs/
A2
Anglais
~ 2500
Sens
0 sens
adjective
A2
property
1
Not effective or helpful
Not able to do what is needed or wanted.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] is useless for [purpose]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'useless' with 'not used'. 'Useless' means it cannot help or do its job, not just that it is not being used.
Synonymes
ineffective (More formal; often used in professional or technical contexts.)
|
worthless (Stronger negative connotation, often implying no value at all.)
Antonymes
useful (Direct opposite; capable of serving a purpose or achieving a result.)
|
effective (Focuses on producing the intended result successfully.)
Collocations
completely useless
|totally useless
|prove useless
|useless attempt
|useless device
Thèmes
daily life
|evaluation
|work
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- This old phone is useless now that it won't turn on.
- The map was useless because the roads had changed.
- Without proper training, the new software is useless to the team.
- His advice turned out to be useless in solving the problem.
- Carrying an umbrella was useless since it didn't rain.
Exemples pédagogiques
- This pen is useless. It has no ink.
- My shoes are useless in the rain.
- The key is useless. It does not open the door.
- The book is useless for learning English.
- The machine is useless without electricity.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
useless
API
GB/jˈusləs/
US/jˈusləs/
Syllabes et accentuation
use - less (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (use)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: useless
Famille de mots
Expressions
as useless as a chocolate teapot
1/ˈæz jˈusləs ˈæz ə t͡ʃˈɔklɪt tˈipˌɑt/
idiom
informal
Completely without use or value
So useless that it cannot do the job at all.
Exemples
- That broken ladder is as useless as a chocolate teapot.
- Without the right password, this computer is as useless as a chocolate teapot.
make oneself useful
1/mˈeɪk wˌʌnsˈɛlf jˈusfəl/
fixed phrase
Do something helpful
To help by doing something needed or useful.
Exemples
- If you're just standing there, you could make yourself useful and hand me those tools.
- She decided to make herself useful by cleaning the kitchen while waiting.
serve no purpose
1/sˈɚv nˈoʊ pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase
Have no use or reason
To not be useful or needed for anything.
Exemples
- These old files serve no purpose anymore.
- Arguing about it will serve no purpose.