use

noun \ ˈyüs \

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

The idea of impounding enemy tanks for use at trial or scouring enemy bunkers for spent bullet cases to put in evidence bags during, say, the Persian Gulf War would be ridiculous because, in that context, the enemy is not a criminal.

— chicagotribune.com, "There is no war in Afghanistan," 30 Aug. 2017
Ford said the commission concluded that the Prospect Cove project met the stipulations of the metro comprehensive land-use plan and that the design and density were suitable for the site.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Prospect doesn't want this senior housing project. Planners approved the rezoning anyway," 30 Aug. 2017
Below the dam: Cotter Trout Dock reports: five to 10 generators in use; trout good (particularly browns) on 1/8 -ounce white or white/gray jigs, sculpins and crawfish.

— bruce janssen, kansascity, "Fishing report for Aug. 31," 30 Aug. 2017
In both non-fatal shootings and other uses of force, information about officers’ training, prior use of force, complaints and discipline were not included in internal affairs files.

— jsonline.com, "Trust damaged between Milwaukee police and community, Department of Justice draft report says," 30 Aug. 2017
His idea was to make the Vietnamese and their Communist allies think that Nixon would do anything, including use his nuclear weapons, to end the war.

— Washington Post, "Analysis: Is North Korea winning deterrence war with US?," 29 Aug. 2017
In the time between the two surveys, women who drink at what is considered a high-risk level increased by 60 percent, and their rate of alcohol use disorders went up by 84 percent.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "What Does High-Risk Drinking Really Look Like?," 24 Aug. 2017
To make matters worse, widespread insecticide use has contaminated soils and streams and wreaked havoc on beneficial insects, such as bees and other pollinators.

— robert f. service, Science | AAAS, "Pesticide-spiked punch lures mosquitoes to their doom," 24 Aug. 2017
However, the Nugget makes use of every inch of space possible.

— courtney campbell, Country Living, "Take a Peek Inside This Adorable Tiny House That's Just 100 Square Feet," 24 Aug. 2017

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

See Words from the same year

use Synonyms

Synonyms

application, employment, exercise, operation, play, usage

Antonyms

uselessness, worthlessness

Related Words

exertion; reuse

Near Antonyms

disuse, nonuse

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
SXU prof earns grant for racial zoning research How did city planners play a role in using new school construction to create residential segregation, especially in southern cities that once had substantially mixed-race housing patterns?

— Daily Southtown, "Community news," 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
Sites now commonly used for research are also blocked.

— dennis normile, Science | AAAS, "Science suffers as China’s internet censors plug holes in Great Firewall," 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

First Known Use of use

14th century

use Synonyms

Synonyms

apply, employ, exercise, exploit, harness, operate, utilize, bring to bear, draw on (or upon), make use of

Related Words

handle, manipulate, wield; direct, run, work; cannibalize, recycle, reuse

Near Antonyms

ignore, neglect; misapply, misuse

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, Statute of Uses

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

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

use

transitive verb \ ˈyüz \

legal Definition of use

used; using

:to put into service :have enjoyment of

—

user

noun

Learn More about use

See words that rhyme with use Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for use Spanish Central: Translation of use Nglish: Translation of use for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of use for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about use

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up use? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

use

Definition of use

From the M-W Editors

Examples of use in a Sentence

Recent Examples of use from the Web

Origin and Etymology of use

use Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

use

Definition of use

Examples of use in a Sentence

Recent Examples of use from the Web

First Known Use of use

use Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of use

USE Defined for English Language Learners

use

Definition of use for English Language Learners

use

Definition of use for English Language Learners

USE Defined for Kids

use

Definition of use for Students

user

Word Root of use

use

Definition of use for Students

Law Dictionary

use

legal Definition of use

use

legal Definition of use

user

Learn More about use

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

I'll Have the Us(ual)

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066