usu·al
ˈyü-zhə-wəl 
-zhəl;
ˈyüzh-wəl
1
: accordant with usage, custom, or habit : normal
2
: commonly or ordinarily used
followed his usual route
3
: found in ordinary practice or in the ordinary course of events : ordinary
: something usual
Synonyms
Examples of usual in a Sentence
Adjective
She charges less than the usual fee.
He took his usual route to work.
the usual method for preparing chili
She is not my usual doctor.
It's usual to charge a fee for delivery.
It's not usual for him to get home so late.
Recent Examples on the Web
Zimo Zhong, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
This is largely due to Milwaukee seeing much less snow than usual this winter.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an Unusual Mortality Event for gray whales in 2019 due to a larger-than-usual number of dead whales in poor condition washing ashore along their migration range.
—Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
Despite their inflation concerns, professional investors were more bullish than usual with recession fears in the rearview for now.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
Stillman is planning on making her usual salmon patties to bring over for Seder at her son’s nearby home.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Simply put, McCarthy requires more projection than usual for a prospect being considered in the top-10 since he hasn’t been asked to do a lot of the things his peers have on a consistent basis.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024
And throughout the seder, many things are done differently than usual to stimulate this curiosity.
—Elliot Kukla, TIME, 22 Apr. 2024
Read the full Cancer Daily Horoscope Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Throw your usual approach to success out the window.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the C.S.A. box.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
On the first floor, in the back corner of the hotel, there also was a small cafe, a fashion-week usual for the house.
—Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024
Someone’s pouring your usual, sending you to sleep with a bustling soundtrack, or simply offering a comforting anchor in a sprawling, occasionally overwhelming metropolis.
—Maggie Hennessy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2022
Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022
On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022
This style runs small, so reviewers suggest ordering a size larger than your usual.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 June 2022
Dealing with long-lasting constipation, diarrhea, or poops that are different from your usual?
—Korin Miller, SELF, 22 Feb. 2022
Adjective
Even more pressure than usual is on companies broadly to deliver fatter profits and revenue.
—Zimo Zhong, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
This is largely due to Milwaukee seeing much less snow than usual this winter.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an Unusual Mortality Event for gray whales in 2019 due to a larger-than-usual number of dead whales in poor condition washing ashore along their migration range.
—Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
Despite their inflation concerns, professional investors were more bullish than usual with recession fears in the rearview for now.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
Stillman is planning on making her usual salmon patties to bring over for Seder at her son’s nearby home.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Simply put, McCarthy requires more projection than usual for a prospect being considered in the top-10 since he hasn’t been asked to do a lot of the things his peers have on a consistent basis.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024
And throughout the seder, many things are done differently than usual to stimulate this curiosity.
—Elliot Kukla, TIME, 22 Apr. 2024
Read the full Cancer Daily Horoscope Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Throw your usual approach to success out the window.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
Noun
Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the CSA box.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the C.S.A. box.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
On the first floor, in the back corner of the hotel, there also was a small cafe, a fashion-week usual for the house.
—Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024
Someone’s pouring your usual, sending you to sleep with a bustling soundtrack, or simply offering a comforting anchor in a sprawling, occasionally overwhelming metropolis.
—Maggie Hennessy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2022
Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022
On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022
This style runs small, so reviewers suggest ordering a size larger than your usual.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 June 2022
Dealing with long-lasting constipation, diarrhea, or poops that are different from your usual?
—Korin Miller, SELF, 22 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'usual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to usual
Dictionary Entries Near usual
Cite this Entry
“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usual. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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