use

1 the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the use of boom boxes is strictly prohibited in the park Synonyms application, employment, exercise, operation, play, usage Related Words exertion; reuse Near Antonyms disuse, nonuse

2 the capacity for being useful for some purpose the broken grill isn't going to be of much use in cooking the hamburgers Synonyms account, avail, mileage, service, serviceability, serviceableness, usefulness, utility Related Words advantage, benefit, gain; aid, assistance, help; applicability, appropriateness, fitness, relevance; profit, value, worth Near Antonyms inapplicability, inappropriateness Antonyms uselessness, worthlessness

3 positive regard for something I have no use for slackers Synonyms appetite, fancy, favor, fondness, like, love, love affair, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, likingRelated Words craving, desire, hankering, longing, thirst, yen; enthusiasm, gusto, interest, passion; bias, prejudice; bent, inclination, leaning, propensity, tendency; tooth; palate; weaknessNear Antonyms apathy, disinclination; indifference, unconcernAntonyms aversion, disfavor, disgust, dislike, distaste, hatred, loathing, mislike

1 to put into action or service I will need to use the large hammer for this project Synonyms apply, employ, exercise, exploit, harness, operate, utilize Related Words handle, manipulate, wield; direct, run, work; cannibalize, recycle, reuse Phrases bring to bear, draw on (or upon), make use of Near Antonyms ignore, neglect; misapply, misuse

2 to behave toward in a stated way the factory workers were underpaid and poorly used by their employers Synonyms act (toward), be (to), deal (with), handle, serve, treatRelated Words consider, esteem, rate, reckon, regard, view; engage (with), react (to), respond (to)

3 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 abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), impose (on or upon), leverage, milk, pimp, play (on or upon), exploit, workRelated Words jerk around, manipulate, mistreat; bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick; commercialize, commodify