Word
availability
Phoneticsavail·abil·i·ty
US/əˌveɪɫəˈbɪɫəti/
UK/ɐvˌeɪləbˈɪlɪti/
Definitions
01being free to use or buy
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the fact that something is ready to be used or can be bought.
n. the state of being obtainable or accessible for use or purchase.
“The manager apologized for the limited availability of fresh fruit during the winter.”
“The widespread availability of high-speed internet has fundamentally transformed how rural communities access educational resources and government services.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the resource.
Synonyms
02a person's schedule
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the time when someone is free to talk to you or do a job.
n. the state of being free from other commitments and thus able to be met or consulted.
“Please let me know your availability for a short phone call next Tuesday.”
“The consultant's limited availability meant that the project deadline had to be pushed back by several weeks.”
Usage
Commonly used in professional correspondence regarding scheduling.
Teaching tip
In business English, asking for someone's 'availability' is more formal and polite than asking 'when are you free?'
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “availability” in context.
Adjective
01. increased availability
“Increased availability of public transport has led to a decrease in city center traffic.”
adj + noun
02. increasing availability
“The increasing availability of organic produce reflects a shift in consumer preferences.”
adj + noun
03. limited availability
“Tickets for the gala are expected to sell out quickly due to limited availability.”
adj + noun
Noun
04. availability of
“The widespread availability of high-speed internet has transformed how we work remotely.”
noun + prep
05. resource availability
“The project timeline was adjusted based on current resource availability within the department.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“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.” Etymology
From available + -ity; attested since the early 1800s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/availability