usage

noun

us·age | \ ˈyü-sij

How to pronounce usage (audio)

, -zij\

Definition of usage

1a : firmly established and generally accepted practice or procedure

b : a uniform certain reasonable lawful practice existing in a particular locality or occupation and binding persons entering into transactions chiefly on the basis of presumed familiarity

c : the way in which words and phrases are actually used (as in a particular form or sense) in a language community

2a : the action, amount, or mode of using a decreased usage of electricity

b : manner of treating

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about usage

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for usage

habit, practice, usage, custom, wont mean a way of acting fixed through repetition. habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively. had a habit of tapping his fingers practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice. our practice is to honor all major credit cards usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm. western-style dress is now common usage in international business custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law. the custom of wearing black at funerals wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group. as was her wont, she slept until noon

Examples of usage in a Sentence

Seat belt usage in the state is now mandatory. drug usage among college students Restaurant dishes must be able to withstand rough usage. efforts to reduce water usage increasing usage of the nation's highways This word occurs in casual usage. differences between British and American usage I came across an uncommon usage I'd like to discuss with you.

Recent Examples on the Web

The state Department of Transportation has expanded its road usage charge program, OReGO. — USA TODAY, "Ink library, parking barnacles, lunar training grounds: News from around our 50 states," 9 July 2019 All these laws require states to track usage and publish statistics. — Paula Span, New York Times, "Aid in Dying Soon Will be Available to More Americans. Few Will Choose It.," 8 July 2019 Not that much, as some sites noted in real usage tests. — Rubén Rosario, Twin Cities, "Rosario: This Fourth of July was for smart thermostats and dumb parades," 6 July 2019 Foremost is a knight with the delightfully pretentious name of Don Adriano de Armado, who mangles proper English usage and pronunciation with hilarious results. — Mike Giuliano, baltimoresun.com, "Resistance is futile in Shakespeare's 'Love's Labour's Lost' in Ellicott City," 5 July 2019 There were no apparent signs of a physical struggle or drug usage, according to police. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Police trying to identify man found unresponsive outside casino," 4 July 2019 If anything, a ban would have been better policy seven years ago, when cigarette usage was declining and vaping was still relatively uncommon. — James P. Sutton, National Review, "San Francisco’s Vaping Ban Threatens to Push Teens Back Toward Cigarettes," 4 July 2019 Russian nationals, like Alexander Vinnik—suspected of laundering billions of dollars through BTC-e, a cryptocurrency exchange—have further been linked to bitcoin usage. — Matthew De Silva, Quartz, "Russia is strangely calm about Facebook’s cryptocurrency," 4 July 2019 But since Mayor Greg Fischer's proposed budget cuts were made public in April, the Living Room's usage has dropped off. — Darcy Costello, The Courier-Journal, "More people will end up on the streets, in jail or worse as crisis response project ends," 3 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'usage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for usage

usage

noun

English Language Learners Definition of usage

: the act of using something

: the way that something is used

: the amount of something that is used

See the full definition for usage in the English Language Learners Dictionary

usage

noun

us·age | \ ˈyü-sij

, -zij\

Kids Definition of usage

1 : usual way of doing things a business usage

2 : the way in which words and phrases are actually used

3 : the action of using : use The book was worn from long usage.

usage

noun

us·age | \ ˈyü-sij, -zij

\

Legal Definition of usage

: an habitual or uniform practice especially in an area or trade — compare custom

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

desideratum

something desired as essential

Test Your Vocabulary

What's that Smell?! Quiz

Someone who is hircine smells like a:

frog dog
goat horse

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ