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to be of use or value to; profit; advantage:
All our efforts availed us little in trying to effect a change.
to be of use; have force or efficacy; serve; help:
His strength did not avail against the hostile onslaught.
to be of value or profit.
advantage; use; efficacy; effective use in the achievement of a goal or objective:
His belated help will be of little or no avail.
avails, Archaic. profits or proceeds.
avail oneself of, to use to one’s advantage:
They availed themselves of the opportunity to hear a free concert.
Contemporary Examples

The international community will complain loudly, to no avail.
A Blunder No PR Can Fix Reza Aslan May 31, 2010

Hot dog eaters do not avail themselves of the do-it-yourself fixings.
El Guero Canelo Serves Tucson’s Most Mexcellent Hot Dog Jane & Michael Stern March 29, 2014

One of them even manages to stay king of the metal hill, as his peers try to no avail to climb up and steal his crown.
Kristen Wiig as Harry Styles, The Sochi Wolf, and More Viral Videos Ariana Dickey February 21, 2014

Since 1992, the E.U. has pursued a “critical dialogue,” followed by a “comprehensive dialogue” with Iran—to no avail.
Rowhani’s Empty Victory Andrew Apostolou June 18, 2013

He argued that Titi was stunning and had a magnificent presence, but to no avail.
Israel’s Ethiopian Beauty Queen Sparks Debate Don Futterman April 11, 2013

Historical Examples

The King endeavoured to console her, but it was not a matter where consolation could avail.
The Divorce of Catherine of Aragon J.A. Froude

His instinct of sympathy with which he had greeted her at the outset was repelled, and made of no avail.
Within the Law Marvin Dana

In your Preface you say, “What would it avail me in this gloom of solitude?”
Life of Johnson James Boswell

Now, he was her humble petitioner, but this servility could be of no avail to save him from shame.
Within the Law Marvin Dana

To do this, I will avail myself of the precedent established for this case, by taking informal evidence upon it.
Miss Hildreth, Volume 3 of 3 Augusta de Grasse Stevens

verb
to be of use, advantage, profit, or assistance (to)
avail oneself of, to make use of to one’s advantage
noun
use or advantage (esp in the phrases of no avail, to little avail)
v.

c.1300, availen, apparently a French compound formed in English from Old French a- “to” (see ad-) + vailen “to avail,” from vaill-, present stem of valoir “be worth,” from Latin valere (see valiant). Related: Availed; availing. As a noun, from c.1400.
In addition to the idiom beginning with avail