usu·al
ˈyü-zhə-wəl 
-zhəl;
ˈyüzh-wəl
1
: accordant with usage, custom, or habit : normal
2
: commonly or ordinarily used
followed his usual route
3
: found in ordinary practice or in the ordinary course of events : ordinary
: something usual
Synonyms
Examples of usual in a Sentence
Adjective
She charges less than the usual fee.
He took his usual route to work.
the usual method for preparing chili
She is not my usual doctor.
It's usual to charge a fee for delivery.
It's not usual for him to get home so late.
Recent Examples on the Web
Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
This red-hot take on shade is the perfect blend of cowboy copper and hot taki red: bold, bright, and a total 180 from her usual look.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2024
Consulting firms are warning that their usual corporate clients are starting to pull back on long-term spending.
—Alan Murray, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Despite the chaos and vows to change things, when the dust settled, Congress largely stuck to its usual ways, much to the chagrin of Republicans who came to Washington vowing to change things.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
Get The Recipe 50 of 50 Pineapple-Sweet Tea Punch
Swap your usual pitcher of iced tea with our Pineapple-Sweet Tea Punch this summer.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
As usual, many of these gatherings will serve as stomping grounds for social media creators and A-list concert-goers.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Household surveys by the Census Bureau, most recently in February and March, found that Californians are struggling more with housing finances and paying for usual living expenses than the national average.
—Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Yet your usual good humor wins through and puts others at their ease.
—Debbie Frank, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the C.S.A. box.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
On the first floor, in the back corner of the hotel, there also was a small cafe, a fashion-week usual for the house.
—Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024
Someone’s pouring your usual, sending you to sleep with a bustling soundtrack, or simply offering a comforting anchor in a sprawling, occasionally overwhelming metropolis.
—Maggie Hennessy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2022
Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022
On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022
This style runs small, so reviewers suggest ordering a size larger than your usual.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 June 2022
Dealing with long-lasting constipation, diarrhea, or poops that are different from your usual?
—Korin Miller, SELF, 22 Feb. 2022
Adjective
But Phish’s usual rig wouldn’t fit into the Sphere.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
This red-hot take on shade is the perfect blend of cowboy copper and hot taki red: bold, bright, and a total 180 from her usual look.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2024
Consulting firms are warning that their usual corporate clients are starting to pull back on long-term spending.
—Alan Murray, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Despite the chaos and vows to change things, when the dust settled, Congress largely stuck to its usual ways, much to the chagrin of Republicans who came to Washington vowing to change things.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
Get The Recipe 50 of 50 Pineapple-Sweet Tea Punch
Swap your usual pitcher of iced tea with our Pineapple-Sweet Tea Punch this summer.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
As usual, many of these gatherings will serve as stomping grounds for social media creators and A-list concert-goers.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Household surveys by the Census Bureau, most recently in February and March, found that Californians are struggling more with housing finances and paying for usual living expenses than the national average.
—Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Yet your usual good humor wins through and puts others at their ease.
—Debbie Frank, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Noun
Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the CSA box.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the C.S.A. box.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
On the first floor, in the back corner of the hotel, there also was a small cafe, a fashion-week usual for the house.
—Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024
Someone’s pouring your usual, sending you to sleep with a bustling soundtrack, or simply offering a comforting anchor in a sprawling, occasionally overwhelming metropolis.
—Maggie Hennessy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2022
Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022
On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022
This style runs small, so reviewers suggest ordering a size larger than your usual.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 June 2022
Dealing with long-lasting constipation, diarrhea, or poops that are different from your usual?
—Korin Miller, SELF, 22 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'usual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to usual
Dictionary Entries Near usual
Cite this Entry
“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usual. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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