use 1 of 2

verb

ˈyüz How to pronounce use (audio)
Definition of usenext
1
as in to utilize
to put into action or service I will need to use the large hammer for this project

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to treat
to behave toward in a stated way the factory workers were underpaid and poorly used by their employers

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3
as in to exploit
to take unfair advantage of I was paying for everything on our little outing, and I was starting to feel like I was being used

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use

2 of 2

noun

ˈyüs How to pronounce use (audio)
1
as in application
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the use of boom boxes is strictly prohibited in the park

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in usefulness
the capacity for being useful for some purpose the broken grill isn't going to be of much use in cooking the hamburgers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in liking
positive regard for something I have no use for slackers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb use contrast with its synonyms?

The words employ and utilize are common synonyms of use. While all three words mean "to put into service especially to attain an end," use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end.

willing to use any means to achieve her ends

Where would employ be a reasonable alternative to use?

Although the words employ and use have much in common, employ suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, inactive, or disengaged.

looking for better ways to employ their skills

When is it sensible to use utilize instead of use?

While in some cases nearly identical to use, utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.

an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of use
Verb
Most teams could use a hitter like Schwarber in the lineup, especially considering how valuable slugging has become in the modern era. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025 Never use your high-beam lights. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
The machines Winks and the nursery crews use are calibrated to handle only seeds in good condition. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025 Several studies show that antibiotic use also increases depression risk anywhere from 4% to 33%. —Leigh Weddle, Verywell Health, 11 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for use
Recent Examples of Synonyms for use
  1. utilize
  2. treat
  3. exploit
  4. application
  5. usefulness
  6. liking
  7. apply
  8. handle
Verb
  • Skaggs’ attorneys utilized last week’s testimony to establish how a team doctor’s opiate prescriptions exacerbated Eric Kay’s addiction, and how, according to multiple former employees, that addiction became evident throughout the organization.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The agent utilizes natural language interactions across TIME's entire digital content corpus to drive reader engagement.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of utilize
Verb
  • Mock was treated at a hospital for injuries before being booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Cancer immunotherapy is used to treat many common cancers, including breast, colon and bladder, and doctors want to know if the COVID shot might also help extend survival for those patients.
    — Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of treat
Verb
  • The 30-second spot cites a 2023 New York Times investigation into migrant children trafficked and exploited to work grueling jobs at factories, construction sites, farms and other dangerous work places.
    — Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The organization, which represents the major film and TV studios, as well as major streaming platforms, argues in the letter that Instagram is trying to exploit the public’s trust in its ratings system for its own gain.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of exploit
Noun
  • Microsoft President Brad Smith speaks at a press conference at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia about future visions for the development and application of artificial intelligence in education in NRW in Berlin on June 4, 2025.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
  • In the capital, Caracas, CNN took a rare look at the application.
    — Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of application
Noun
  • Its usefulness as a host of carbon offset markets is limited, and governments should have no illusions that their annual check-in under the Paris agreement will enforce real accountability, much less create incentives for more ambitious national pledges.
    — JESSICA F. GREEN, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2025
  • To attempt to increase the usefulness and accuracy of benchmarks, several research groups have recently proposed new series of tests that better measure models’ real-world performance on economically meaningful tasks.
    — Jared Perlo, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of usefulness
Noun
  • The overall body remains a little too chunky for our liking, but the front fascia and roofline have been modified to more closely resemble the vehicle that inspired this build.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Bring Out The Wool Socks Are the temps outside start getting a little chilly for your liking?
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025
Definition of liking
Verb
  • Regional restrictions may apply.
    — Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Future research could explore whether similar biases apply to other visible traits, such as race or disability.
    — Abby Frank, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of apply
Verb
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Gloves are recommended when handling.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of handle

Phrases Containing use

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Cite this Entry

“Use.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/use. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on use

Nglish: Translation of use for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about use

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