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use definition

use (yo̵̅o̅z; for n. yo̵̅o̅s)

transitive verb used (yo̵̅o̅zd; withto, '' usually yo̵̅o̅s), using us′·ing

  1. to put or bring into action or service; employ for or apply to a given purpose
  2. to practice; exercise to use one's judgment
  3. to act or behave toward; treat to use a friend badly
  4. to consume, expend, or exhaust by use: often with up to use up one's energy
    1. to smoke or chew (tobacco)
    2. to take or consume habitually to use drugs
  5. to make familiar; accustom: used in the passive with to to become used to certain ways
  6. to exploit or treat (a person) as a means to some selfish end

Etymology: ME usen < OFr user < VL *usare < L usus, pp. of uti, to use

intransitive verb

  1. to be accustomed; be wont: now only in the past tense, with an infinitive, meaning “did at one time” he used to live in Iowa
  2. Now Chiefly Dial. to frequent; resort

noun

  1. the act of using or the state of being used
  2. the power or ability to use to regain the use of an injured hand
  3. the right or permission to use to grant a neighbor the use of one's car
  4. the need, opportunity, or occasion to use no further use for his services
  5. an instance or way of using
  6. the quality that makes a thing useful or suitable for a given purpose; advantage; usefulness; worth; utility
  7. the object, end, or purpose for which something is used
  8. function, service, or benefit
  9. constant, continued, customary, or habitual employment, practice, or exercise, or an instance of this; custom; habit; practice; wont
  10. the particular form of ritual or liturgy practiced in a given church, diocese, etc.
  11. Law
    1. the enjoyment of property, as from occupying, employing, or exercising it
    2. Etymology: infl. by OFr ues, gain < L opus, a work

      profit, benefit, or advantage, esp. that from lands and tenements held in trust by another

Etymology: ME & OFr us < L usus

use Idioms

have no use for

  1. to have no need of
  2. to have no wish to deal with; be impatient with
  3. ☆ to have no affection or respect for; dislike strongly

in use

being used

make use of

to use; have occasion to use

put to use

to use; find a use for

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
use Synonyms

use

n.

  1. The act of using

    practice, employment, application, usage, appliance, effecting, adoption, utilization, manipulation, bringing to bear, management, handling, performance, conduct, recourse, resort, exercise, treatment, method, technique, control, resolution, realization, association.

    Antonyms neglect*, disuse*, dismissal. *

  2. The state of being useful

    utility, usefulness, usability, employment, application, value, worth, advantage, excellence, helpfulness, convenience, suitability, expedience, aid, serviceability, merit, profit, practicability, practicality, stead, fitness, subservience, effectiveness, applicability.


use

v.

  1. To make use of

    avail oneself of, employ, put to use, exercise, exert, put forth, utilize, apply, bring to bear, practice, play on, do with, draw on, adopt, take advantage of, turn to account, make do, accept, work, put in practice, relate, make with, put to work, make shift with.

    Antonyms discard*, reject*, refuse*. *

  2. To make a practice of; now only in the past tense with an infinitive

    be accustomed to, practice, do.

  3. To behave toward

    deal with, handle, bear oneself toward; see manage 1.

use implies the putting of a thing (or, usually in an opprobrious sense, a person regarded as a passive thing) into action or service so as to accomplish an end to use a pencil, a suggestion, etc.; he used his brother to advance himself; employ, a somewhat more elevated term, implies the putting to useful work of something not in use at that moment to employ a vacant lot as a playground and, with reference to persons, suggests a providing of work and pay she employs five accountants; utilize implies the putting of something to a practical or profitable use to utilize chemical byproducts


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

use Usage Examples

Object

  • technique: They were to use persuasive techniques to influence the reader.

Converse of object

  • make: Once inside your building can a wheelchair user get to use all customer areas or make use of your service unaided?

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • such: We use established Couriers such as Interlink Express or Royal Mail Parcel Force.

Adjective modifier

  • personal: Personal use of material is permitted for research and/or information purposes only.

Noun used with modifier

  • land: Other ancient woodland sites have been replanted with conifers or broadleaved plantations, or have been converted to other habitats or land use.

Infinitive complement

  • treat: There are also sprays on the market that you can use to treat your furniture.

Preposition: of

  • technology: Speed measuring devices continue to improve through the use of new technology.
use usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

use quotes

What is the use of a new-born child?

-Frank, Anne

To be successful in business, you should produce something cheap, habit-forming, and consumed by use.

-Gillette, King Camp

The value, or worth of a man, is as of all other things, his price; that is to say, so much as would be given for the use of his power.

-Hobbes,Thomas

use quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"use." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/use>

APA Style

use. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/use

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