Synonyms of “Availed”: Comprehensive Guide to Usage, Examples, and Practice

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2. INTRODUCTION

Mastering synonyms is a powerful way to expand your English vocabulary, enhance your writing, and communicate with precision. The verb “avail” is often found in formal English, meaning to make use of or to benefit from. Its past tense, “availed”, appears in academic, legal, business, and formal contexts. Understanding the synonyms of “availed”—and how to use them correctly—can help you avoid repetition, express nuance, and tailor your language to any situation.

This comprehensive guide explores the many synonyms of “availed,” focusing on their definitions, grammatical structures, nuanced meanings, and proper contexts. Whether you are a learner, teacher, writer, or advanced student, this article will provide you with the tools to diversify your language and communicate more effectively.

We will cover definitions, categories, sentence structures, collocations, extensive examples, usage rules, common errors, practice exercises, advanced nuances, and frequently asked questions.

Table of Contents

3. DEFINITION SECTION

3.1. What Does “Availed” Mean?

“Availed” is the past tense of the verb “avail”, which means to make use of something or to benefit from something. It is often used in the structure “availed oneself of”, meaning to take advantage of an opportunity or resource.

Etymology: “Avail” comes from the Old French availer (to be of use), and ultimately from the Latin ad valere (to be worth).

Grammar: “Avail” is a transitive verb. It is often reflexive (i.e., used with “oneself”), especially in formal writing: She availed herself of the opportunity.

Contexts: The verb appears most often in formal, academic, legal, or business contexts.

3.2. The Concept of Synonyms

A synonym is a word or phrase that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase. Using synonyms helps avoid repetition, express subtle differences in meaning, and improve clarity and style in your writing and speech.

3.3. Synonyms of “Availed”: Focus and Scope

In this guide, we focus on synonyms that can replace “availed” in the sense of “made use of” or “took advantage of”. We will look at synonyms fitting various registers (formal, neutral, informal), and discuss subtle differences in meaning and typical usage.

Note: Some synonyms may carry different connotations or fit better in certain contexts. We will highlight these nuances throughout.

4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN

4.1. Grammatical Structure of “Availed” and Its Synonyms

Most synonyms of “availed” are transitive verbs (they take an object). Some are phrasal verbs (e.g., “took advantage of”), and a few are idiomatic expressions.

  • Reflexivity: “Availed” is often reflexive (availed oneself of), while many synonyms are not.
  • Regularity: Most synonyms are regular verbs (used, employed, utilized), but there are exceptions.
  • Prepositions: Many require specific prepositions (availed of, benefited from, took advantage of).

4.2. Sentence Patterns

“Availed” and its synonyms can appear in several common sentence structures. Compare the patterns in the table below.

Table 1: Sentence Patterns with “Availed” and Synonyms
Pattern Example with “Availed” Example with Synonym
Subject + Verb + Object The team availed itself of the resources. The team used the resources.
Subject + Verb + Prepositional Phrase She availed herself of the opportunity. She benefited from the opportunity.
Subject + Verb + (Object) + Infinitive (Rare for “availed”) He employed his skills to solve the problem.
Passive Voice The benefits were availed of by the staff. The benefits were utilized by the staff.

4.3. Collocations and Common Phrases

“Availed” and its synonyms often appear in set phrases or with certain words (collocations).

  • availed oneself of
  • availed the opportunity
  • availed the services/resources
  • took advantage of the situation
  • benefited from the program
  • utilized available tools
Table 2: Collocations with “Availed” and Synonyms
Collocation Typical Synonym(s) Example Sentence
availed oneself of took advantage of, made use of She availed herself of the free training.
availed the opportunity seized, capitalized on He seized the opportunity to travel abroad.
availed the resources used, utilized, employed The students utilized the library resources.
availed the services used, made use of They made use of the counseling services.

5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES OF SYNONYMS

5.1. Synonyms by Register

Synonyms can be grouped by how formal or informal they are.

  • Formal: utilized, employed, capitalized on, availed oneself of
  • Neutral/Informal: used, took advantage of, made use of, got, grabbed

5.2. Synonyms by Nuance

  • Emphasizing benefit: benefited from, profited from, gained from
  • Emphasizing opportunity: seized, took advantage of, capitalized on
  • Emphasizing usage: used, utilized, employed, made use of
  • Emphasizing exploitation (sometimes negative): exploited

5.3. Synonyms by Grammatical Structure

  • One-word verbs: used, utilized, employed, exploited
  • Phrasal verbs: took advantage of, made use of, capitalized on
  • Idiomatic expressions: grabbed the chance, jumped at the opportunity

6. EXAMPLES SECTION

6.1. Basic Examples (with “Availed” and Synonyms)

Table 3: Simple Sentences – “Availed” vs. Synonyms
With “Availed” With Synonym
She availed herself of the free lunch. She took advantage of the free lunch.
He availed himself of the opportunity. He seized the opportunity.
The company availed itself of the new tax laws. The company utilized the new tax laws.
They availed themselves of the available resources. They made use of the available resources.
She availed herself of the scholarship program. She benefited from the scholarship program.
We availed ourselves of every opportunity to learn. We took every opportunity to learn.
He availed himself of the discount. He used the discount.
The students availed themselves of library services. The students employed library services.
She availed herself of the chance to travel. She grabbed the chance to travel.
They availed themselves of expert advice. They sought expert advice.

6.2. Examples by Register and Formality

  • Formal: The researchers utilized advanced techniques.
  • Formal: She availed herself of every opportunity for professional growth.
  • Formal: The organization capitalized on its reputation.
  • Neutral: He used the information provided.
  • Neutral: They took advantage of the early bird discount.
  • Informal: She grabbed the chance to meet her favorite author.
  • Informal: We jumped at the opportunity to see the concert.
  • Neutral: The students benefited from the extra lessons.
  • Formal: He employed a new method to solve the problem.
  • Informal: They made use of their free time to relax.

6.3. Examples by Nuance

Table 4: Synonyms Categorized by Nuance – With Example Sentences
Nuance Synonym Example Sentence
Benefit benefited from The community benefited from the new park.
Benefit profited from He profited from the investment.
Opportunity seized She seized the chance to study abroad.
Opportunity took advantage of He took advantage of the job opening.
Usage used They used all available resources.
Usage employed The scientist employed a new technique.
Exploitation (Negative) exploited The company exploited cheap labor.
Benefit gained from The students gained from the experience.
Opportunity capitalized on The brand capitalized on the trend.
Usage made use of She made use of her connections.

6.4. Complex Sentences in Academic/Business Contexts

  • The research team availed themselves of state-of-the-art technology to advance their project.
  • The company capitalized on emerging market opportunities to expand its global reach.
  • Participants benefited from the comprehensive training provided during the seminar.
  • The analyst employed advanced statistical methods to interpret the data.
  • The organization utilized government funding to launch the initiative.
  • The employees made use of flexible working hours to improve work-life balance.
  • The department took advantage of the recent policy changes to improve efficiency.
  • The entrepreneur seized the chance to introduce a new product line.
  • The project team gained from collaboration with international partners.
  • Consultants exploited loopholes in the regulations to maximize profits (negative connotation).

6.5. Idiomatic and Phrasal Examples

Table 5: Idiomatic Synonyms and Contextual Sentences
Idiom/Phrasal Verb Contextual Example
made the most of She made the most of her time abroad.
jumped at the chance He jumped at the chance to work overseas.
grabbed the opportunity They grabbed the opportunity to expand the business.
latched onto The startup latched onto the latest technology.
ran with it She saw an idea and ran with it.
cashed in on The company cashed in on the holiday season.
tapped into They tapped into a new customer base.
took full advantage of The students took full advantage of the resources available.
leapt at the opportunity She leapt at the opportunity to publish her findings.
made hay while the sun shone They made hay while the sun shone during the busy season.

6.6. Error Analysis Examples

  • Incorrect: He availed the opportunity.
    Correct: He availed himself of the opportunity.
  • Incorrect: She benefited of the program.
    Correct: She benefited from the program.
  • Incorrect: The manager utilized of the new software.
    Correct: The manager utilized the new software.
  • Incorrect: They employed the opportunity.
    Correct: They took advantage of the opportunity.
  • Incorrect: She made use the resources.
    Correct: She made use of the resources.

7. USAGE RULES

7.1. Correct Use of “Availed” and Its Synonyms

Choose the correct verb pattern for each synonym. Some are reflexive; others are not.

Table 6: Verb Patterns with Synonyms (Reflexive, Non-Reflexive, Prepositional Phrases)
Synonym Reflexive? Typical Preposition Example
availed Yes (oneself) of He availed himself of the help.
benefited No from She benefited from the program.
utilized No – They utilized the equipment.
employed No – He employed new methods.
took advantage No of They took advantage of the offer.
exploited No – The company exploited the loophole.
made use No of She made use of her contacts.

7.2. Preposition Use

  • availed (oneself) of: He availed himself of the offer.
  • benefited from: They benefited from the changes.
  • took advantage of: She took advantage of the opportunity.
  • utilized/employed/used: No preposition needed. He utilized the resources.
  • made use of: They made use of the information.

7.3. Register and Appropriateness

Match the synonym to the context and level of formality.

Table 7: Register Appropriateness Chart
Synonym Formal Neutral Informal
availed (oneself of) ✓
utilized ✓ ✓
employed ✓ ✓
capitalized on ✓ ✓
used ✓ ✓
took advantage of ✓ ✓
grabbed/jumped at (the chance) ✓

7.4. Subtle Differences in Meaning

  • Exploited: Often negative (unfair or unethical use).
  • Benefited from: Focuses on receiving a benefit.
  • Utilized/Employed: Stress on using something (often skills, tools).
  • Took advantage of: Can be positive (used well) or negative (unfairly used).

7.5. Exceptions and Special Cases

  • “Availed” requires the reflexive pronoun (“himself,” “herself,” “themselves”) in modern usage.
  • Some expressions (e.g., “employed the opportunity”) are non-standard.
  • “Exploited” should be used with caution due to its negative tone.

8. COMMON MISTAKES

8.1. Reflexive vs. Non-Reflexive Errors

  • Incorrect: He availed the offer.
    Correct: He availed himself of the offer.

8.2. Preposition Confusion

  • Incorrect: She benefited of the changes.
    Correct: She benefited from the changes.
  • Incorrect: He utilized of the new system.
    Correct: He utilized the new system.

8.3. Register Mismatches

  • Incorrect: In a casual conversation: “I utilized my phone.”
    Better: “I used my phone.”
  • Incorrect: In a formal report: “The manager grabbed the chance.”
    Better: “The manager seized the opportunity.”

8.4. Overuse or Repetition

  • Poor style: She availed herself of the offer, then availed herself of the resources, and availed herself of the advice.
    Better: She availed herself of the offer, used the resources, and benefited from the advice.

8.5. Incorrect Collocations

  • Incorrect: She employed the opportunity.
    Correct: She took advantage of the opportunity.

8.6. Table 8: Common Mistakes and Corrections

Table 8: Common Mistakes and Corrections
Mistake Correction
He availed the opportunity. He availed himself of the opportunity.
She benefited of the program. She benefited from the program.
They employed the chance. They made use of the chance.
She utilized of the tool. She utilized the tool.
He made use the facilities. He made use of the facilities.
He capitalized the opportunity. He capitalized on the opportunity.

9. PRACTICE EXERCISES

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises

  1. She ________ herself of the free trial offered by the company.
  2. The students ________ from the extra classes provided.
  3. The manager ________ on the new market trends to increase profits.
  4. They ________ the latest technology to improve efficiency.
  5. He ________ advantage of the early registration discount.
  6. The entrepreneur ________ the opportunity to expand the business.
  7. We ________ the resources available to us.
  8. The company ________ a creative marketing strategy.
  9. She ________ into her network to find a new job.
  10. They ________ the loophole in the law to avoid taxes. (negative connotation)
  11. He ________ at the chance to travel abroad.
  12. The organization ________ the funds to build a new facility.
  13. She ________ the advice of her mentor.
  14. They ________ the opportunity to learn from experts.
  15. The students ________ the available study materials.

9.2. Correction Exercises

  1. He availed the discount.
  2. She benefited of the services.
  3. The team employed the opportunity.
  4. They utilized of the equipment.
  5. She made use the resources.
  6. The manager capitalized the situation.
  7. He exploited of the program.
  8. We took advantage the offer.
  9. The company used of the new regulations.
  10. She availed herself to the program.

9.3. Synonym Identification

Choose the best synonym for “availed” in each sentence:

  1. She ________ (used/employed) her language skills to get the job.
  2. The business ________ (benefited from/took advantage of) the new law.
  3. They ________ (capitalized on/made use of) the publicity.
  4. He ________ (utilized/availed himself of) the available support.
  5. The teacher ________ (used/benefited from) the online resources.
  6. The firm ________ (grabbed/jumped at) the opportunity to expand.
  7. She ________ (exploited/benefited from) the loophole (negative sense).
  8. We ________ (employed/took advantage of) the tools provided.
  9. He ________ (availed himself of/used) the financial aid.
  10. They ________ (capitalized on/took advantage of) the situation.

9.4. Sentence Construction

Write an original sentence using each specified synonym:

  1. availed (oneself of)
  2. took advantage of
  3. utilized
  4. made use of
  5. seized

9.5. Matching Exercise

Match the synonym to its closest meaning
Synonym Meaning
benefited from A. made good use of something
seized B. took a chance quickly
utilized C. used something effectively
exploited D. used something, often unfairly
made use of E. gained a benefit from something

9.6. Table 9: Exercise Answer Key

Table 9: Exercise Answer Key
Section Question Answer
9.1 1 availed
9.1 2 benefited
9.1 3 capitalized
9.1 4 utilized
9.1 5 took
9.1 6 seized
9.1 7 used
9.1 8 employed
9.1 9 tapped
9.1 10 exploited
9.1 11 jumped
9.1 12 utilized
9.1 13 followed
9.1 14 grabbed
9.1 15 used/benefited from/made use of
9.2 1 He availed himself of the discount.
9.2 2 She benefited from the services.
9.2 3 The team took advantage of the opportunity.
9.2 4 They utilized the equipment.
9.2 5 She made use of the resources.
9.2 6 The manager capitalized on the situation.
9.2 7 He exploited the program.
9.2 8 We took advantage of the offer.
9.2 9 The company used the new regulations.
9.2 10 She availed herself of the program.
9.3 1 used
9.3 2 benefited from
9.3 3 capitalized on
9.3 4 availed himself of
9.3 5 used
9.3 6 grabbed
9.3 7 exploited
9.3 8 employed
9.3 9 availed himself of
9.3 10 capitalized on
9.5 benefited from E
9.5 seized B
9.5 utilized C
9.5 exploited D
9.5 made use of A

10. ADVANCED TOPICS

10.1. Subtle Nuances: Connotation and Tone

  • Exploited: Implies unfair or unethical use. E.g., “The company exploited its workers.”
  • Utilized: Neutral, formal; suggests efficient or effective use. E.g., “The team utilized its resources.”
  • Took advantage of: Can be positive (smart use) or negative (unfair use). Context matters.
  • Benefited from: Focuses on receiving a benefit, often without implying action.

10.2. Synonyms in Academic and Technical Writing

  • Preferred: utilized, employed, capitalized on, availed oneself of.
  • Less preferred: used (can be too basic), took advantage of (can be ambiguous).

Example: “The researchers utilized advanced statistical models to interpret the data.”

10.3. Synonyms in Literary and Creative Contexts

Literary writers often use synonyms for stylistic variation or effect: “He jumped at the chance,” “She seized the day,” or “They made the most of their time.”

10.4. Cross-Linguistic Perspective

Many languages use different structures for the meaning of “availed.” For example, French uses “profiter de” (to benefit from), and Spanish “aprovechar” (to take advantage of). When translating, always consider connotation and context.

10.5. Historical and Evolving Usage

“Availed oneself of” was once common in both formal and literary contexts, but is now less frequent in everyday English. Synonyms like “used” and “benefited from” are more widely used in modern speech and writing.

11. FAQ SECTION

  1. What does “availed” mean, and when is it used?
    “Availed” means to make use of or benefit from something, usually in formal or academic contexts. It is often used in the reflexive form: “She availed herself of the opportunity.”
  2. What are the most common synonyms for “availed”?
    Common synonyms include: used, utilized, employed, took advantage of, benefited from, capitalized on, made use of, seized, exploited (with caution).
  3. How do I know which synonym to use in a sentence?
    Consider the context (formal/informal), the nuance (benefit, opportunity, usage), and whether the verb is reflexive or not. Refer to tables in this guide for guidance.
  4. What is the difference between “availed” and “benefited from”?
    “Availed” means to actively make use of something, while “benefited from” focuses on receiving a benefit, not always through active effort.
  5. Can “availed” and its synonyms be used interchangeably?
    Not always. Some synonyms have specific structures or connotations. For example, “availed” is reflexive, “exploited” is often negative, and “utilized” is more formal.
  6. When should I use “availed oneself of” instead of another synonym?
    Use “availed oneself of” in formal writing when you want to express that someone actively took advantage of an opportunity or resource.
  7. Are there informal or slang synonyms for “availed”?
    Yes. Informal options include “grabbed the chance,” “jumped at the opportunity,” or simply “used.”
  8. What are common mistakes when using “availed” and its synonyms?
    Common errors include missing the reflexive pronoun (“availed the opportunity”), incorrect prepositions (“benefited of”), and register mismatches (using “utilized” in casual speech).
  9. How do I use the correct preposition with each synonym?
    “Availed (oneself) of,” “benefited from,” “took advantage of,” “utilized” (no preposition), “made use of.”
  10. Are there synonyms that carry a negative connotation?
    Yes. “Exploited” often implies unfair or unethical use. “Took advantage of” can also be negative if used in an unfair context.
  11. Can I use “availed” in modern English, or is it outdated?
    “Availed” is still correct but is mainly used in formal contexts. In everyday conversation, alternatives like “used” or “took advantage of” are more common.
  12. How can I practice using synonyms of “availed” effectively?
    Use the exercises in this guide, write your own sentences, read academic and business texts, and pay attention to context and nuance when choosing synonyms.

12. CONCLUSION

Understanding the synonyms of “availed” is essential for clear, precise, and varied communication. This guide has provided definitions, structural patterns, synonym categories, extensive examples, usage rules, common errors, and advanced nuances.

By choosing the right synonym for the right context, you can improve both your writing and speaking.

Remember: Practice is key. Use the exercises and tables provided to solidify your knowledge.

Continue reading widely and experimenting with vocabulary to reach higher proficiency and confidence in English.

For further study, explore advanced vocabulary lists, synonym dictionaries, and style guides. Every synonym you master brings you closer to truly effective and elegant communication!

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