use

noun \ ˈyüs \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: use in a Sentence

Definition of use

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 (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

3 a : the privilege or benefit of using something

gave him the use of her car

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

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

4 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 2b

it's no use arguing

d : the occasion or need to employ

took only what they had use for

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 favorable attitude : liking

had no use for modern art

See use defined for English-language learners

See use defined for kids

Examples of use in a Sentence

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 of use from the Web

Disciplinary orders from the Missouri Board of Pharmacy show that employees at Walgreens and CVS locations in Kansas City and Independence were caught stealing tens of thousands of opioid pills for personal use or to sell on the black market.

— andy marso, kansascity, "As opioids poured into Missouri, the DEA failed, McCaskill says," 12 July 2018
The delay leaves Nevada reassessing its options and stokes a debate about how the 31 states that have capital punishment can put anyone to death in an era when pharmaceutical companies ban their products for that use.

— ken ritter and michelle l. price, Time, "Nevada Delays Its First Execution in 12 Years After a Drug Company Objects," 12 July 2018
The worms provide fertile worm castings for use in her garden; the castings increase organic matter in her soil.

— dawn standke, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Tally up your garden’s earth friendliness," 12 July 2018
That's due to conservation efforts, recycling wastewater and recharging water underground for future use, SRP officials say.

— joshua bowling, azcentral, "As the Arizona drought persists, Phoenix's water use continues to drop," 12 July 2018
The actual proposal before the council was to approve an agreement between ComEd and the city for use of the poles.

— steve lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora council wants more study of using ComEd poles to expand fiber optic network," 11 July 2018
Straws made from other materials, like paper and compostable plastic, are also available for use with Frappuccinos upon request. 2.

— erin corbett, Fortune, "These 8 Companies Are Ditching Plastic Straws. Here’s How They Are Replacing Them," 11 July 2018
But barring a change in state law, the sheriffs have argued, retaining the unspent funds for personal use was legal and acceptable. The practice has been the subject of periodic controversy.

— alan blinder, New York Times, "Alabama Moves to Limit Sheriffs From Pocketing Jail Food Money," 11 July 2018
Marijuana is legal for recreational use in nine states and the District of Columbia, and 31 states allow medical marijuana in varying degrees.

— author: lornet turnbull, katie zezima, Anchorage Daily News, "When marijuana is legal in Canada, Americans are expected to flock. But the border, and US law, stands in the way.," 11 July 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of use

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

use Synonyms

use

verb \ ˈyüz \

Definition of use

used play \ˈyüzd, in the phrase "used to" usually ˈyüs(t)\; using play \ˈyü-ziŋ\

transitive verb

1 archaic : accustom, habituate

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

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

4 : to carry out a purpose or action by means of : utilize; also : manipulate 2b

used him selfishly

5 : to expend or consume by putting to use —often used with up

6 : to behave toward : act with regard to : treat

used the prisoners cruelly

7 : stand 1d

the house could use a coat of paint

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

See use defined for English-language learners

Examples of use in a Sentence

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?

Recent Examples of use from the Web

Scientists use nets to capture diseased tadpoles and then fly them by helicopter from their natural range deep within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

— scott smith, The Seattle Times, "Inoculations give endangered California frog a shot at life," 30 Aug. 2017
Hahn’s doesn’t use preservatives, so its baked goods should be consumed quickly.

— jay jones, chicagotribune.com, "Turn back the clock and spend quality time in Iowa's Amana Colonies," 30 Aug. 2017
Now, after dropping off a passenger, drivers can use a new function called Rematch to be matched with passengers who have requested a ride.

— lisa beebe, Los Angeles Magazine, "LAX Just Made It Easier to Catch a Lyft/Uber from the Airport," 30 Aug. 2017
Its airfield was used to launch B-29 attacks on the Philippines and mainland Japan including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

— nancy daly, Cincinnati.com, "Eclipse road trip an adventure for Mason couple," 30 Aug. 2017
Rowe said the plant initially used generators to power the refrigeration system, but when those failed after the flood, the chemicals were moved to diesel-powered refrigerators.

— adam k. raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "CEO of Flooded Texas Chemical Plant: There’s ‘No Way to Prevent’ Explosion," 30 Aug. 2017
HSAs are linked to high-deductible insurance plans, and consumers use the money in the account to pay their out-of-pocket expenses.

— julie rovner, Kaiser Health News, "5 Outside-The-Box Ideas For Fixing The Individual Insurance Market," 30 Aug. 2017
A non-profit or government entity using the building Monday through Friday would pay $400 daily for up to eight hours; the daily rental for Friday through Sunday would be $600 each day.

— allan vought, The Aegis, "Bel Air planning Armory rental rate increases," 28 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of use

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

use Synonyms

Synonyms

apply, employ, exercise, exploit, harness, operate, utilize;

Near Antonyms

ignore, neglect;

misapply, misuse;

Related Words

handle, manipulate, wield;

direct, run, work;

cannibalize, recycle, reuse;

Phrases

bring to bear, draw on (or upon), make use of;

Synonym Discussion of 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

USE Defined for English Language Learners

use

noun

Definition of use for English Language Learners

: the act of using something
: the state of being used
: a way in which something is or can be used

use

verb

Definition of use for English Language Learners

: to do something with (an object, machine, person, method, etc.) in order to accomplish a task, do an activity, etc.
: to take (something) from a supply in order to function or to do a task
: to eat, drink, etc., (something) regularly

USE Defined for Kids

use

verb \ ˈyüz \

Definition of use for Students

used \ˈyüzd, in the phrase "used to" usually ˈyüst\; using \ˈyü-ziŋ\

1 : to put into action or service : make use of

use tools

use good English

2 —used with to to show a former custom, fact, or state

Grandma said winters used to be harder.

3 : to take into the body

people who use drugs

I don't use sugar in tea.

4 : to do something by means of

Be sure to use care.

5 : to behave toward : treat

He used the children kindly.

—

user

noun

— use up

: to make complete use of : exhaust

We used up the supply of firewood within a week.

Word Root of use

The Latin word ūtī, meaning “to use,” “to possess,” or “to enjoy,” and its form ūsus give us the roots ut and us. Words from the Latin ūtī have something to do with use. To use is to possess and enjoy. To abuse is to use something incorrectly or unfairly. Anything usual is commonly used by many people. A utensil is a tool that is used for a particular purpose, especially for eating or cooking.

use

noun \ ˈyüs \

Definition of use for Students

1 : the act of putting something into action or service

put knowledge to use

2 : the fact or state of being put into action or service

a book in daily use

3 : way of putting into action or service

the proper use of tools

4 : the ability or power to put something into action or service

It's a blessing to have the use of one's legs.

5 : the quality or state of being useful

6 : a reason or need to put into action or service

I've no use for it.

7 : liking

We have no use for mean people.

Law Dictionary

use

noun \ ˈyüs \

legal Definition of use

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 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

1 : 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

2 : 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

1 : 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.

2 : 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

1 : 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

2 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