availability
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the fact that something is ready to be used or can be bought.
the state of being obtainable or accessible for use or purchase.
Simple“The manager apologized for the limited availability of fresh fruit during the winter.”
In context“The widespread availability of high-speed internet has fundamentally transformed how rural communities access educational resources and government services.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of' followed by the resource.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the time when someone is free to talk to you or do a job.
the state of being free from other commitments and thus able to be met or consulted.
Simple“Please let me know your availability for a short phone call next Tuesday.”
In context“The consultant's limited availability meant that the project deadline had to be pushed back by several weeks.”
UsageCommonly used in professional correspondence regarding scheduling.
Teacher's tipIn business English, asking for someone's 'availability' is more formal and polite than asking 'when are you free?'
Usage availability of · increased availability · increasing availability
“Human-caused climate change can amplify El Niño's impacts because a warmer ocean and atmosphere increase the availability of energy and moisture for extreme weather events, such as heat waves and heavy rainfall.”
“There is a "mismatch", he said, between each hospital's waiting lists, organ availability, capacity to carry out surgeries and the availability of operating theatres.”
From available + -ity; attested since the early 1800s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.