Avail yourself of sth Meaning / Examples / How to Use

What Does “Avail yourself of sth” Mean?

“Avail yourself of sth” means to make use of an opportunity, resource, or service. It suggests actively taking advantage of something available to you.

Introduction

The phrase “Avail yourself of sth” is a formal way to say you are using or taking advantage of something offered. Whether it’s a service, help, or opportunity, this expression encourages action. Understanding the Avail yourself of sth meaning helps you use it correctly in both writing and speaking. It is often found in professional or polite contexts, such as invitations or instructions. This phrase highlights the idea of benefiting from something willingly and actively.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Avail yourself of something
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2 to C1
• Short meaning: To make use of or take advantage of something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Avail yourself of sth” is a fixed phrase and is inseparable. It always follows this pattern:

• Subject + avail(s) + yourself + of + something

Note: The reflexive pronoun “yourself” changes according to the subject (e.g., myself, himself, themselves).

Examples of subject and reflexive pronoun:

• I avail myself of
• You avail yourself of
• He/she/it avails himself/herself/itself of
• We avail ourselves of
• They avail themselves of

How to Use “Avail yourself of sth”?

Use this phrase when you want to politely tell someone to use a service, opportunity, or resource. It is often found in formal writing, invitations, or advice.

For example, you might say, “Please avail yourself of the free Wi-Fi during your stay,” which means you are encouraged to use the Wi-Fi service.

Examples

• Avail yourself of the special discount before it ends.
• Guests are invited to avail themselves of the hotel’s spa facilities.
• You should avail yourself of the training sessions offered by the company.
• Students can avail themselves of the library’s resources anytime.
• We availed ourselves of the opportunity to visit the museum.

These examples show how “Avail yourself of sth in a sentence” is used to express making use of something beneficial.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect: I availed the free service.
  Correct: I availed myself of the free service.
• Incorrect: She avails of the offer.
  Correct: She avails herself of the offer.
• Incorrect: They avail the opportunity.
  Correct: They avail themselves of the opportunity.

Remember, “avail” requires the reflexive pronoun and the preposition “of” to be correct.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrases include “take advantage of,” “make use of,” and “utilize.”

• Take advantage of: Informal and can sometimes imply unfairness, while “avail yourself of” is more neutral and formal.
• Make use of: More common in everyday speech, less formal.
• Utilize: Formal and often used in technical contexts, but does not require reflexive pronouns.

For example, “Please avail yourself of the resources” sounds more polite and formal than “Please take advantage of the resources.”

Common Collocations

• Avail yourself of the opportunity
• Avail yourself of the service
• Avail yourself of the offer
• Avail yourself of the resources
• Avail yourself of the facilities
• Avail yourself of assistance/help/support

Real-life Dialogue

Anna: The hotel offers free guided tours. Should we join?

Mark: Definitely! We should avail ourselves of that. It’s a great chance to explore the city.

Anna: Good idea. I’ll sign us up at the front desk.

Practice

Fill in the blank with the correct form of “avail yourself of”:

During the conference, attendees are encouraged to _________ the online resources provided.

• a) avail yourself of
• b) avail themselves of
• c) avail of
• d) avail

Answer: b) avail themselves of

FAQs

• Q: Can I use “avail” without “yourself”?
  A: No, “avail” in this phrase requires a reflexive pronoun like “yourself.”
• Q: Is “avail yourself of” formal or informal?
  A: It is formal and polite.
• Q: Can I use it in spoken English?
  A: Yes, but it is more common in formal or polite contexts.
• Q: What is the difference between “avail yourself of” and “use”?
  A: “Avail yourself of” is more formal and polite than simply saying “use.”
• Q: Does “avail yourself of” always need an object?
  A: Yes, it must be followed by something you are taking advantage of.