usage

noun

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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 This is why even though the NBA announced a slew of other restrictions — shorter locker-room meetings, revamped seating charts on planes, increased in-game mask usage on the bench, etc. — Mike Finger, ExpressNews.com, "Mike Finger: Out of the bubble, NBA facing reality," 12 Jan. 2021 Here is our estimation based on that listing, game usage, interviews and other intel. — Nathan Baird, cleveland, "What is Ohio State’s depth chart against Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game?," 11 Jan. 2021 Now, as usage expands beyond these groups, many medical facilities are struggling to meet the very specific demands and inclusion criteria. — Popular Science, "COVID vaccines are getting thrown out thanks to strict distribution rules," 11 Jan. 2021 Across its operations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona and Florida, Mayo has provided 2,200 treatments so far, and hopes to soon publish data about the impact on hospitalizations, intensive care usage and deaths, Razonable said. — Christopher Snowbeck, Star Tribune, "Slow uptake in Minnesota for promising new COVID-19 therapy," 9 Jan. 2021 Lear said, employing the crude ethnic slur for Chinese people and, in his father’s usage, Chinese food. — David M. Shribman, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Those were (still are) the days’," 9 Jan. 2021 The problem, which was resolved the same day, could be at least partly tied to the spike in usage Slack noted this year as massive parts of the workforce began working from home during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. — Washington Post, "Slack is down on first workday of 2021," 4 Jan. 2021 Trautman has seen his usage climb within the offense throughout the season after New Orleans traded up to pick him in the third round out of Dayton. — Jeff Nowak, NOLA.com, "Who's in/out at RB for Saints in Week 17? What to know about Ty Montgomery, Tony Jones, others," 2 Jan. 2021 The essential role of public space in a metropolitan region showed itself in ways that were easy to measure, such as usage. — John King, SFChronicle.com, "As we kept our distance from one another, our public spaces revealed their new uses," 1 Jan. 2021

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.