as in use
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the machine's warranty does not cover malfunctions that result from improper usage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun usage differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of usage are custom, habit, practice, and wont. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.

western-style dress is now common usage in international business

Where would custom be a reasonable alternative to usage?

The synonyms custom and usage are sometimes interchangeable, but custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.

the custom of wearing black at funerals

When could habit be used to replace usage?

In some situations, the words habit and usage are roughly equivalent. However, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

When might practice be a better fit than usage?

The words practice and usage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

When is wont a more appropriate choice than usage?

While in some cases nearly identical to usage, wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

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 usage They are recommended for customers with very high internet usage and multiple bandwidth-heavy activities. Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 The increasing wildfire risk has a combination of complex factors, from larger weather patterns to local climate and land usage. Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2025 Professionals will appreciate tools like WireGuard protocol for faster speeds, Double VPN servers for layered security, and Split Tunneling to balance VPN usage across apps. PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025 Staff members also said water usage per day would likely be less than the buildings previously located on the site. Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for usage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usage
Noun
  • The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Here is a quick tour through recent vision tech, with examples of prescription eyeglasses tailored to specific uses.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
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

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Cite this Entry

“Usage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usage. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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