1
as in conventional
accepted, used, or practiced by most people
that's not the usual method, but it works
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events
the characters in this novel are drawn with greater depth than is usual for a work of science fiction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ubiquitous
often observed or encountered
the usual reaction to the sight of the falls is one of absolute awe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 usual
Due to the change in course since 2024, the race ran at 1 ¼ miles instead of its usual mile-and-a-half.
—
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Your clothing may get a longer soak and spin time than usual, but this setting doesn't use heavy-duty agitation.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
Once testing confirmed a viable path forward, Kenny had to reduce his testosterone dosage to a quarter of its usual amount and stop taking the blocker that had prevented both menstruation and pregnancy.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
Rachel and Alex planned to spend the day going through their usual routine, playing inside before taking a long walk with their dog Molly through Wimbledon Commons, a popular park in southwest London.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for usual
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Your clothing may get a longer soak and spin time than usual, but this setting doesn't use heavy-duty agitation.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
Once testing confirmed a viable path forward, Kenny had to reduce his testosterone dosage to a quarter of its usual amount and stop taking the blocker that had prevented both menstruation and pregnancy.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
Rachel and Alex planned to spend the day going through their usual routine, playing inside before taking a long walk with their dog Molly through Wimbledon Commons, a popular park in southwest London.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
-
Unmoored from the family unit, and inflated by success and ambition, she is left to roam the rainy hills like a beast that has exiled itself from conventional society.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
That store, in a mixed use development on South Coast Highway 101, faced lagging sales and was one of nine to close nationwide as the chain — months shy of its acquisition by Amazon — faced new competition from Walmart and other conventional grocers.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Jabbing pain and constant malaise followed him for years, but regular blood tests always came back normal — until one day a specialist thought to ask something new.—
Rachel Zimmerman,
Washington Post,
6 June 2026
-
Although resuming his normal testosterone dosage shortly after the procedure, Kenny’s menstrual cycle started to return.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Behold the kingdom of golden arches, where Big Macs reign supreme, salty fries slide into ubiquitous red containers, and McFlurries dance on taste buds all year long.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
-
In recent years, the rise of dating apps—some of which allow users to set height preferences when browsing potential matches—has made height exaggeration even more ubiquitous.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Williams’ gift for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary was inspired by his interactions with his patients.—
René Ostberg,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
-
Like his perceptive doc about Joy Division, Everybody Digs Bill Evans is about the ordinary that feeds the extraordinary and leaves us to figure out the rest for ourselves.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The joyride ended with a customary burnout, as the rising star closed his big day in a cloud of smoke.—
Time,
Time,
9 June 2026
-
In a region where bringing your new neighbors a casserole is customary, micro-bakeries feel more like an extension of Southern hospitality.—
Natalie Hoy,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Once the Islander opened the door, in typical Love Island USA fashion, they were prompted to kiss the other islanders with common interests.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
-
In the Veritasium video, Humphreys speculated that the Russians may have been testing the satellites’ GPS interference capabilities only briefly on a neighboring frequency adjacent to the typical GPS band.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
In mid-January, as Iran crushed wide-scale protests with the mass killing of demonstrators, Israel prepared a covert mission along the Azerbaijan-Iran border, two of the sources familiar with the plans told CNN.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Broadcom is backstopping payments on the largest portions of the transaction, people familiar with the matter have said.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Metro Transit now has 121 police officers, 49 community service officers and over 130 transit rider investment program, or TRIP, agents in charge of checking fares and making sure riders follow the rules.—
Joe Van Ryn,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
Parking, rules and important things to know Passes for entry can be purchased on the KC Pride website or at the gate using cash or card.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
