use

1 of 2

verb

ˈyüz 

used ˈyüzd 

 in the phrase "used to" usually  ˈyüs(t)

; using ˈyü-ziŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to put into action or service : avail oneself of : employ

need to use the car

using traditional methods

The machine is easy to use.

… as far as I could tell, he was not using actual words …

—Kazuo Ishiguro

Don't use that tone with me.

—often used with for; often followed by to + a verb

She used all the money for college.

Use this knife to cut the bread.

2

: to expend or consume by putting to use

I used all the milk.

—often used with up

Don't use up all the hot water.

3

: to benefit from the use of : stand sense 1d

—usually used with can or could

Can you use this lamp? I don't want it anymore.

The house could use a coat of paint.

I could use some sleep.

4

: to consume or take (liquor, drugs, etc.) regularly

5

: to carry out a purpose or action by means of : utilize

also : manipulate sense 2b

used him selfishly

6

: to behave toward : act with regard to : treat

used the prisoners cruelly

7

archaic : accustom, habituate

intransitive verb

1

—used in the past with to to indicate a former fact or state

We used to go more often.

didn't use to smoke

2

: to take illicit drugs regularly

3

: to treat unfairly

I kept paying their way and was beginning to feel like I was being used.

Usage of Use to and Used to

The verb forms use to and used to both say that something that formerly existed or repeatedly happened no longer exists or happens. The difference between the two rests entirely on the word did. Use to requires it.

I did use to like that song.

It didn't use to be like that.

Used to does not.

I used to like that song.

It used to be different.

Used to also functions as an adjective describing someone who is so familiar with something that the thing seems normal or usual.

I'm used to eating at noon.

use

2 of 2

noun

ˈyüs 

1

a

: the act or practice of employing something : employment, application

He made good use of his spare time.

b

: the fact or state of being used

a dish in daily use

c

: a method or manner of employing or applying something

gained practice in the use of the camera

2

a

: the privilege or benefit of using something

gave him the use of her car

The pool is for the use of hotel guests only.

b

: the ability or power to use something (such as a limb or faculty)

regained the use of his leg

c

: the legal enjoyment of property that consists in its employment, occupation, exercise, or practice

3

a

: a particular service or end

put learning to practical use

b

: the quality of being suitable for employment

saving things that might be of use

c

: good sense 2b

it's no use arguing

d

: the occasion or need to employ

took only what they had use for

4

: a favorable attitude : liking

had no use for modern art

5

a

: the benefit in law of one or more persons

specifically : the benefit or profit of property established in one other than the legal possessor

b

: a legal arrangement by which such benefits and profits are so established

6

a(1)

: habitual or customary usage

(2)

: an individual habit or group custom

b

: a liturgical form or observance

especially : a liturgy having modifications peculiar to a local church or religious order

Synonyms of use

Verb

• utilize
• apply
• exploit
• employ
• harness
• operate

Noun

• application
• exercise
• usage
• operation

Choose the Right Synonym for use

use, employ, utilize 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

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

utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.

an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

Examples of use in a Sentence

Verb

I need to use the phone when you're done.

The machine is easy to use.

After the accident, she could no longer use her legs.

We use only organic fertilizers on our farm.

They make paper using traditional Japanese methods.

He used his time there well.

Which accountant do you use?

a new kind of light bulb that uses very little electricity

Did you use all the eggs?

Who used the last match?

Noun

Two players were suspended for illegal drug use.

Doctors have found a new use for the drug.

According to the dictionary, the word has two uses.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Other younger-generation consumers say there’s really no advantage to using cash and complain that getting some wastes time. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025

There is an appetite among some esports players to use AI to help coach future stars, Tan said. —Lucy Handley, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2025

Noun

For leaders struggling with AI adoption, the answer isn’t to push harder to mandate its use. —Feon Ang, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025

The final shape of Fence was to be determined by whatever land-use permissions were granted to the Christos. —Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English us, from Anglo-French, from Latin usus, from uti to use

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing use

• alcohol use disorder
• come into use
• emergency use authorization
• fair use
• for the use of
• go out of use
• have no use for
• ill-use
• in regular use
• in use
• it's no use
• make use of
• mixed-use
• not have any use for
• put (something) to (good) use
• single use
• try/use every trick in the book
• use case
• use one's head
• use one's heads
• use one's noggin
• use/play the race/gender card
• use the bathroom
• use to
• use up
• what's the use

Rhymes for use

• coos
• cruce
• deuce
• douce
• duce
• goose
• hoose
• juice
• loose
• mousse
• noose
• nous

Kids Definition

use

1 of 2 noun

ˈyüs 

1

a

: the act or practice of using something : application

put knowledge to use

b

: the fact or state of being used

a dish in daily use

c

: way of using

the proper use of tools

2

a

: the privilege or benefit of using something

gave me the use of their car

b

: the ability or power to use something (as a limb)

after the operation you'll again have the use of your leg

3

a

: a particular service or end

no use in crying all the time

b

: the quality of being useful

old clothes that are still of some use

c

: a reason or need to use

took only what he had use for

4

: liking

had no use for modern art

use

2 of 2 verb

ˈyüz 

used ˈyüzd 

 in the phrase  ",

 used to  ",

 usually  ˈyüs(t)

; using ˈyü-ziŋ 

1

: to put into action or service : employ

pronunciations used by different people

used care in handling the antiques

2

: to take into the body regularly

never uses tobacco

3

: to carry out an action by means of : utilize

use caution

4

: to make use of : consume sense 2

the car uses a lot of gas

5

: to behave toward : treat

used the prisoners cruelly

6

—used in the past tense with to to show a former practice, fact, or state

claims winters used to be harder

user

ˈyü-zər

noun

Legal Definition

use

1 of 2 noun

ˈyüs 

1

a

: an arrangement in which property is granted to another with the trust and confidence that the grantor or another is entitled to the beneficial enjoyment of it see also trust

Note: Uses originated in early English law and were the origin of the modern trust. Uses became popular in medieval England, where they were often secretly employed as a method of evading laws (as those prohibiting mortmain) and penalties (as attainder) and to defeat creditors. In response, the Statute of Uses was enacted in 1535. The purpose of the Statute was to execute the use, investing the legal ownership of the property in the cestui que use, or one entitled to the beneficial enjoyment, and abolishing the ownership of the grantee. The Statute did not have blanket application, however. Certain uses, particularly those in which the grantee was not merely a passive holder of the property, were not executed under the Statute. These uses were called trusts, and they were the basis of the modern trust.

b

: the right to the utilization and benefit of property to which legal title is held by another

the secret conveyance of uses in early English law

broadly : the fact or right of having the benefits and profits of property

— beneficial use

: the use of a cestui que use analogous to a beneficial interest in a trust : use sense 1b

— resulting use

: a use that equity attributes back to a grantor when there is no person declared to receive it or no transfer of consideration

— shifting use

: a use that is transferred or takes effect in derogation of some estate upon the happening of a future event

— springing use

: a use that arises upon the happening of a future event and is not in derogation of any other estate

2

: the utilization of property, resources, or services

— beneficial use

: use of property that allows an owner to derive a benefit or profit in the exercise of a basic property right

the owner was entitled to just compensation when he was forced to sacrifice all beneficial use of the property

see also unnecessary hardship compare taking

: use of water for a reasonable or beneficial purpose consistent with the public interest

authorize the diversion of water for beneficial use

— conditional use

: use of property in a zone for a particular purpose that is allowed under conditions set forth in a zoning ordinance : special exception

— fair use

: a use of copyrighted material that does not constitute an infringement of the copyright provided the use is fair and reasonable and does not substantially impair the value of the work or the profits expected from it by its owner

also : the privilege of making a fair use of copyrighted work

Note: Among the factors determining if a use of a copyrighted work is a fair use are these: the purpose of the use, the character of the use (as in being commercial or educational in nature), the nature of the copyrighted work, and the amount of the work used.

— nonconforming use

: use of property in a manner that does not conform to the restrictions of a zoning law (as an ordinance)

specifically : use in lawful existence when a restriction takes effect and so allowed to continue

— public use

: use by or to the benefit of the public

broadly : use that serves a legitimate or conceivable public purpose

nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation

—U.S. Constitution amend. V

see also eminent domain compare taking

Note: If a taking of property is not for public use then the consent of the owner is required.

: use of an invention by one who is under no limitation, restriction, or obligation of secrecy to the inventor

Note: Under federal law one is not entitled to a patent for an invention that was in public use more than a year prior to the date of application for the patent.

— reasonable use

: a use of one's property or of water that is for a suitable and beneficial purpose and that does not lead to unreasonable interference with another's use of property or with the natural flow of water

a : a rule whereby one may alter the natural flow of a watercourse as part of the reasonable use of property even though some harm results to another landowner

b : a rule whereby a use of the water under the surface of one's land that causes harm to an adjacent landowner is reasonable if made for a suitable purpose in connection with the overlying land

Note: This rule originated when cities began to use land in the country for wells that caused injury to adjacent farmers; the water was not for use there and so unreasonableness ultimately depended not on waste or harm but on the final destination of the water.

c : a rule that recognizes a landowner as entitled to make a reasonable use of property if it does not cause unreasonable harm to another and that may be applied to the alteration of a watercourse, the drainage of surface water, and the use of water beneath the surface

3

: utilization of a motor vehicle in a manner that is not completely foreign to its purpose

insurance for accidents arising from the ownership, maintenance, or use of the car

use

2 of 2 transitive verb

ˈyüz 

used; using

: to put into service : have enjoyment of

user noun