| to no avail without any benefit or result. The boy pushed against the door to no avail — something heavy was holding it shut. Usage notes: sometimes used in the phrase to little avail - having almost no benefit or result: Security forces tried to disperse the crowd, but to little avail. only 0.6 for 'little avail' and it shd really be its own id, not a usage note, but I've not suppressed it for now - PH, 1/02. |