usage

noun

us·age | \ ˈyü-sij

, -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

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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

Invoxia says the battery will last one to six months, depending on usage and activity. — Thomas Ricker, The Verge, "Invoxia GPS Tracker review: longevity and range from a new kind of network," 31 Oct. 2018 Y'all love that 360 controller Valve put out some interesting data this week on PC controller usage. — Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "This week in games: The Xbox 360 controller's continued dominance, Ace Attorney on PC, and The Crew 2's free weekend," 28 Sep. 2018 While the other numbers in the arbitrary soda-counter code are long forgotten, eighty-six entered wider usage and developed new meanings—attached to people, not just menu items. — Ben Zimmer, The Atlantic, "A Restaurant “Eighty-Sixed” Sarah Huckabee Sanders. What Does That Mean?," 23 June 2018 Not all of its users want the company to control information connected to their usage. — WSJ, "More Facts About Mr. Zuckerberg’s Facebook," 10 Feb. 2019 While fluorosis only really occurs in young children with developing teeth, cutting down your own usage could also make that tube last longer. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "Your Kids Are Probably Using Too Much Toothpaste, And It’s Hurting Their Teeth," 6 Feb. 2019 Abandonment issues In spite of these weaknesses, Edge does have its own high points: its resource usage seems to be fairly consistently lower than Chrome's, leading to much better battery life on mobile devices. — Peter Bright, Ars Technica, "Report: Microsoft is scrapping Edge, switching to just another Chrome clone," 4 Dec. 2018 However, the great distinction between spices and herbs is in the manner and timing of their usage, which all comes down to one issue: HEAT. — Francine Maroukian, Popular Mechanics, "How Herbs and Spices Can Make You Cook Like a Pro," 13 Nov. 2018 But again, like 87 percent of our usage is in apps. — Eric Johnson, Recode, "Nobody trusts Facebook anymore. Here’s one way it could change that.," 15 Oct. 2018

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.