usual

1 of 2

adjective

usu·​al ˈyü-zhə-wəl 

-zhəl;

ˈyüzh-wəl

1

: accordant with usage, custom, or habit : normal

2

: commonly or ordinarily used

followed his usual route

3

: found in ordinary practice or in the ordinary course of events : ordinary

usualness

ˈyü-zhə-wəl-nəs 

-zhəl-;

ˈyüzh-wəl-

noun

usual

2 of 2

noun

: something usual

Phrases

as usual

: in the accustomed or habitual way

as usual they were late

Synonyms

Adjective

• conventional
• current
• customary
• going
• popular
• prevailing
• prevalent
• standard
• stock

Choose the Right Synonym for usual

usual, customary, habitual, wonted, accustomed mean familiar through frequent or regular repetition.

usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

Examples of usual in a Sentence

Adjective

She charges less than the usual fee.

He took his usual route to work.

the usual method for preparing chili

She is not my usual doctor.

It's usual to charge a fee for delivery.

It's not usual for him to get home so late.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

For example, the fires in New Jersey this week have been part of trend: So far in 2025, New Jersey has experienced nearly twice as many wildfires as usual. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025

Rosemary Oil Shampoo Add a few drops of rosemary oil to your shampoo and wash your hair as usual. —Carley Millhone, Health, 23 Apr. 2025

Noun

Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the CSA box. —Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024

Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the C.S.A. box. —Melissa Clark, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French usuel, from Late Latin usualis, from Latin usus use

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1589, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing usual

• as per usual
• average/normal/general/usual run of
• be one's usual self
• business as usual
• in the usual/normal/ordinary course of business
• same as usual
• the usual
• the usual suspects

Kids Definition

usual

adjective

usu·​al

ˈyüzh-(ə-)wəl,

ˈyüzh-əl

: done, found, or used in the ordinary course of events : normal, regular

less than the usual fee

the usual route to work

usually

ˈyüzh-(ə-)wə-lē

ˈyüzh-(ə-)lē

 in rapid speech  ˈyüz-lē

adverb