Synonyms of usage

usage

noun

ˈyü-sij 

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

• use
• application
• exercise
• operation
• employment
• play
• exertion
• reuse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disuse
• nonuse

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

Recent Examples of usage

Houdini has committed to sourcing 50 percent of their polyester usage from Syre circular polyester for a period of three years. —David Moin, Footwear News, 24 June 2025

CenturyLink throttles speeds after 1 TB data usage, and Spectrum similarly manages its network during peak congestion. —Kara McGinley, USA Today, 24 June 2025

Hormones play a major role in energy usage and storage, metabolism, growth, and fat distribution. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 23 June 2025

The possession and usage of fireworks would also be limited from June 28 to 10 p.m. on July 4. —Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025