used

1 of 2

adjective

ˈyüzd How to pronounce used (audio)
 in the phrase "used to" usually  ˈyüs(t)
1
: having been used before
one of the most used quotes
: such as
a
: already exhausted for its intended purpose
a used tissue
b
: having had a previous owner : secondhand
a used car
used clothing/furniture
2
: accustomed, habituated
… showing how used he was to papers with lies on them …Gilbert Millstein

used

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of use entry 1

Examples of used in a Sentence

Adjective The books on this shelf are used. my grandmother has spent her whole life on the farm and is used to working hard
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Rental agencies Hertz and Sixt were both burned as the value of their cars in the used car market plummeted (one CEO even lost his job over it), while Salesforce rival SAP booted Tesla from the list of brands eligible for its company car fleet. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024 The average price of a used Chevy Bolt has fallen 30%, or $7,847, over the past year, to $17,981. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024 The new standards would not apply to the used car market. Jack Ewing, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 An array of revenue-generating plans includes a new fee on electric vehicles, a higher tax burden for corporations, sales taxes on used car trade-ins, a new 75-cent fee on ride-share trips and higher tolls for out-of-state drivers, among other measures. Erin Cox, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Utilize Cardboard Skip toxic herbicides and synthetic landscape fabric, and reach for used cardboard instead. Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024 But price isn’t the only thing to weigh: Buying a used EV brings a special set of considerations. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024 The suspects were then spotted on video trying to purchase a used car, sources said. Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024 Clothing and used cars were among the categories that rose slightly. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'used.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of used was in 1683

Dictionary Entries Near used

Cite this Entry

“Used.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/used. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

used

adjective
ˈyüzd How to pronounce used (audio)
 in the phrase  ",
 used to  ",
 usually  ˈyüs(t)
1
: employed in accomplishing something
a much used excuse
2
: that has been used
especially : secondhand sense 2a
used cars
3
: having the habit of doing or experiencing
is used to flying

More from Merriam-Webster on used

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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