use 1 of 2

verb

ˈyüz How to pronounce use (audio)
Definition of usenext
1
as in to utilize
to put into action or service I will need to use the large hammer for this project

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to treat
to behave toward in a stated way the factory workers were underpaid and poorly used by their employers

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3
as in to exploit
to take unfair advantage of I was paying for everything on our little outing, and I was starting to feel like I was being used

Synonyms & Similar Words

use

2 of 2

noun

ˈyüs How to pronounce use (audio)
1
as in application
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the use of boom boxes is strictly prohibited in the park

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in usefulness
the capacity for being useful for some purpose the broken grill isn't going to be of much use in cooking the hamburgers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in liking
positive regard for something I have no use for slackers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb use contrast with its synonyms?

The words employ and utilize are common synonyms of use. While all three words 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

Where would employ be a reasonable alternative to use?

Although the words employ and use have much in common, 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

When is it sensible to use utilize instead of use?

While in some cases nearly identical to use, utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.

an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of use
Verb
It’s also known for its birdlife, with meadowlarks, bobolinks, and migrating cranes using the prairie as seasonal habitat. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025 Sweep guest rooms, guest bathrooms, formal entertaining spaces, and other parts of the home that are used infrequently at least once a month. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders said drug possession, while a felony, is not subject to the sentencing enhancement, meaning those struggling with substance use won’t face harsher penalties. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025 In late 2023, the City of South Miami Environmental Review & Preservation Board approved the church’s construction project plans, including building permits for applicable zoning, land use, and environmental regulations. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for use
Recent Examples of Synonyms for use
  1. utilize
  2. treat
  3. exploit
  4. application
  5. usefulness
  6. liking
  7. apply
  8. handle
Verb
  • Firefighters on the ground continued to reinforce lines previously built over the past week, utilizing strategic firing to fill in unburned areas from Fence Meadow Lookout to Nutmeg Saddle.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Ohio State will have to find a way to spy Navarro and also mix some complicated coverages in the secondary, but also utilize the defensive line to keep Navarro in the pocket when passing plays break down.
    — Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of utilize
Verb
  • Mizzou students and fans treated Saturday’s game as a landmark event, selling out the stadium and tailgating hours before the gates opened.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
  • For example, doors open for the Soil to Fork Experience, where visitors learn about farming the Quintosapore way and are then treated to an outdoor lunch with a view of the hills and Città della Pieve in the distance.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025
Definition of treat
Verb
  • Unlike earlier tanks with thicker armor and larger guns, the Type 100 employs active defense interceptors, photoelectric sensors, and remote weapon stations to counter threats from modern anti-tank missiles and drones, which often exploit vulnerabilities on the top of armored vehicles.
    — Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
  • So why wouldn’t AI systems, trained to maximize engagement, exploit those same buttons?
    — Avital Pardo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of exploit
Noun
  • Samsung did not specify how the two chips differ, but MediaTek says the 9400+ is built more specifically for AI applications and is 20% faster than the MediaTek 9400 at agentic AI calculations.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Advisors will stockpile applications and submit them immediately in the new year.
    — Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Definition of application
Noun
  • Not louder claims, but quieter usefulness.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • This is not to dismiss the potential usefulness of AI models.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of usefulness
Noun
  • It’s established right away that Ziva and Tony are friendly but romantically estranged co-parents who’ve found Europe to their mutual liking, but the exact nature of how their relationship changed over the last few years reveals itself in copious flashbacks.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Nix took some of the advice and then molded it into a schedule tailored to his liking.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Definition of liking
Verb
  • The legislation will limit repayment options and cap borrowing limits for graduate students, including eliminating Graduate PLUS loans, forcing more students to apply for private loans or reconsider their education options.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • While mopping, its spinning pads apply 12 Newtons of downward pressure and spin at up to 200 rotations per minute (RPM).
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Definition of apply
Verb
  • Kelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever handles the ball during the first half of the WNBA game at PHX Arena on August 07, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
    — Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • This student’s outbursts had been an ongoing issue for three years, and Elliot quickly realized that few teachers had received the necessary restraint training to handle this student.
    — IndyStar, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of handle

Phrases Containing use

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Cite this Entry

“Use.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/use. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on use

Nglish: Translation of use for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about use

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