Use Definition and Meaning
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 5, 2024
Use means to employ something for a particular purpose or to accomplish a task. e.g., She will use a calculator to solve the math problem.
Table of Contents
Use Definitions
Use denotes the action of operating or handling equipment or machinery.
Only trained personnel are allowed to use this machine.
Avail oneself to;
Apply a principle
Practice a religion
Use care when going down the stairs
Use your common sense
Practice non-violent resistance
Use implies employing an object, tool, or resource to achieve an outcome.
He used a hammer to nail the picture frame to the wall.
Use refers to the act of applying a method or technique for a specific end.
You can use this software to edit your photos efficiently.
Use means to take advantage of an opportunity or available resource.
We should use the sunny weather to paint the house.
Use signifies consuming or taking something into service.
The recipe calls to use three eggs and a cup of flour.
Use involves putting something into action or service.
She used her knowledge of Spanish to communicate with the locals.
Use can mean to utilize a skill, talent, or ability.
He used his negotiation skills to get a better deal.
Use implies drawing on something as a source of help or support.
Many students use online resources for their studies.
Use means to habitually consume or apply something, such as substances or products.
She uses a special cream for her skin condition.
Use can indicate the application of effort or energy toward a task.
They used considerable effort to complete the project on time.
To put into service or employ for a purpose
I used a whisk to beat the eggs. The song uses only three chords.
To avail oneself of; practice
Use caution.
To conduct oneself toward; treat or handle
"the peace offering of a man who once used you unkindly" (Laurence Sterne).
To seek or achieve an end by means of; exploit
Used their highly placed friends to gain access to the president.
Felt he was being used by seekers of favor.
To take or consume for a purpose
She used her savings to buy a computer.
To partake of, especially as a habit
She rarely uses alcohol.
(ys, yst) Used in the past tense followed by to in order to indicate a former state, habitual practice, or custom
Mail service used to be faster.
(Slang) To take an illegal or narcotic drug, especially as a habit.
The act of using something; the application or employment of something for a purpose
With the use of a calculator.
Skilled in the use of the bow and arrow.
The condition or fact of being used
A chair in regular use.
The manner of using; usage
Learned the proper use of power tools.
The permission, privilege, or benefit of using something
Gave us the use of their summerhouse.
The power or ability to use something
Lost the use of one arm.
The need or occasion to use or employ something
I have no use for these old clothes.
The quality of being suitable or adaptable to an end; usefulness
I tried to be of use in the kitchen.
A purpose for which something is used
A tool with several uses.
A pretty bowl, but of what use is it?.
Gain or advantage; good
There's no use in discussing it. What's the use?.
Accustomed or usual procedure or practice
"We are but creatures of use and custom" (Mark Twain).
A particular custom or practice
Uses introduced by recent immigrants.
Enjoyment of property, as by occupying or employing it.
The benefit or profit of lands and tenements of which the legal title is vested in another.
The arrangement establishing the equitable right to such benefits and profits.
A liturgical form practiced in a particular church, ecclesiastical district, or community.
The act of using.
The use of torture has been condemned by the United Nations.
(uncountable) The act of consuming alcohol or narcotics.
Usefulness, benefit.
What's the use of a law that nobody follows?
A function; a purpose for which something may be employed.
This tool has many uses.
Occasion or need to employ; necessity.
I have no further use for these textbooks.
Interest for lent money; premium paid for the use of something; usury.
(archaic) Continued or repeated practice; usage; habit.
(obsolete) Common occurrence; ordinary experience.
(Christianity) The special form of ritual adopted for use in any diocese.
The Sarum, or Canterbury, use; the Hereford use; the York use; the Roman use; etc.
(forging) A slab of iron welded to the side of a forging, such as a shaft, near the end, and afterward drawn down, by hammering, so as to lengthen the forging.
To utilize or employ.
(transitive) To employ; to apply; to utilize.
Use this knife to slice the bread.
We can use this mathematical formula to solve the problem.
To expend; to consume by employing.
I used the money they allotted me.
We should use up most of the fuel.
She used all the time allotted to complete the test.
(transitive) To exploit.
You never cared about me; you just used me!
(transitive) To consume (alcohol, drugs, etc), especially regularly.
He uses cocaine. I have never used drugs.
(intransitive) To consume a previously specified substance, especially a drug to which one is addicted.
Richard began experimenting with cocaine last year; now he uses almost every day.
To benefit from; to be able to employ or stand.
I could use a drink. My car could use a new coat of paint.
To accustom; to habituate. Now common only in participial form. Uses the same pronunciation as the noun; see usage notes.
To become accustomed, to accustom oneself.
To suggest, request, demand or expect that other people use a specific set of gender pronouns when referring to the subject.
I use they/them pronouns.
To habitually do; to be wont to do. (Now chiefly in past-tense forms; see used to.)
I used to get things done.
(dated) To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat.
To use an animal cruelly
To behave, act, comport oneself.
The act of employing anything, or of applying it to one's service; the state of being so employed or applied; application; employment; conversion to some purpose; as, the use of a pen in writing; his machines are in general use.
Books can never teach the use of books.
This Davy serves you for good uses.
When he framedAll things to man's delightful use.
Occasion or need to employ; necessity; as, to have no further use for a book.
Yielding of service; advantage derived; capability of being used; usefulness; utility.
God made two great lights, great for their useTo man.
'T is use alone that sanctifies expense.
Continued or repeated practice; customary employment; usage; custom; manner; habit.
Let later age that noble use envy.
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable,Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Common occurrence; ordinary experience.
O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use.
The special form of ritual adopted for use in any diocese; as, the Sarum, or Canterbury, use; the Hereford use; the York use; the Roman use; etc.
From henceforth all the whole realm shall have but one use.
The premium paid for the possession and employment of borrowed money; interest; usury.
Thou art more obliged to pay duty and tribute, use and principal, to him.
The benefit or profit of lands and tenements. Use imports a trust and confidence reposed in a man for the holding of lands. He to whose use or benefit the trust is intended shall enjoy the profits. An estate is granted and limited to A for the use of B.
A stab of iron welded to the side of a forging, as a shaft, near the end, and afterward drawn down, by hammering, so as to lengthen the forging.
To make use of; to convert to one's service; to avail one's self of; to employ; to put a purpose; as, to use a plow; to use a chair; to use time; to use flour for food; to use water for irrigation.
Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs.
Some other means I have which may be used.
To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat; as, to use a beast cruelly.
How wouldst thou use me now?
Cato has used me ill.
To practice customarily; to make a practice of; as, to use diligence in business.
Use hospitality one to another.
To accustom; to habituate; to render familiar by practice; to inure; - employed chiefly in the passive participle; as, men used to cold and hunger; soldiers used to hardships and danger.
I am so used in the fire to blow.
Thou with thy compeers,Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels.
I would, my son, that thou wouldst use the powerWhich thy discretion gives thee, to controlAnd manage all.
To study nature will thy time employ:Knowledge and innocence are perfect joy.
To be wont or accustomed; to be in the habit or practice; as, he used to ride daily; - now disused in the present tense, perhaps because of the similarity in sound, between "use to," and "used to."
They use to place him that shall be their captain on a stone.
Fears use to be represented in an imaginary.
Thus we use to say, it is the room that smokes, when indeed it is the fire in the room.
Now Moses used to take the tent and to pitch it without the camp.
To be accustomed to go; to frequent; to inhabit; to dwell; - sometimes followed by of.
He useth every day to a merchant's house.
Ye valleys low, where the mild whispers useOf shades, and wanton winds, and gushing brooks.
The act of using;
He warned against the use of narcotic drugs
Skilled in the utilization of computers
A particular service;
He put his knowledge to good use
Patrons have their uses
What something is used for;
The function of an auger is to bore holes
Ballet is beautiful but what use is it?
(economics) the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing;
The consumption of energy has increased steadily
A pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition;
She had a habit twirling the ends of her hair
Long use had hardened him to it
(law) the exercise of the legal right to enjoy the benefits of owning property;
We were given the use of his boat
Exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage;
His manipulation of his friends was scandalous
Put into service; make work or employ (something) for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose;
Use your head!
We only use Spanish at home
I can't make use of this tool
Apply a magnetic field here
This thinking was applied to many projects
How do you utilize this tool?
I apply this rule to get good results
Use the plastic bags to store the food
He doesn't know how to use a computer
Take or consume (regularly or habitually);
She uses drugs rarely
Seek or achieve an end by using to one's advantage;
She uses her influential friends to get jobs
The president's wife used her good connections
Use up, consume fully;
The legislature expended its time on school questions
Habitually do something (use only in the past tense);
She used to call her mother every week but now she calls only occasionally
I used to get sick when I ate in that dining hall
They used to vacation in the Bahamas
Use Snonyms
Operate
To control the functioning of; to use or manipulate.
He knows how to operate the new software.
Employ
To make use of; to utilize for a particular purpose.
She employs a novel technique in her paintings.
Utilize
To make practical and effective use of something.
The program utilizes the latest technology.
Apply
To put into operation or effect; to make use of for a particular purpose.
Apply the cream to the affected area.
Expend
To use up; to spend or consume.
The expedition expended a lot of resources.
Wield
To hold and use (a weapon or tool).
The warrior wielded his sword with skill.
Exercise
To use or apply a faculty, right, or process.
She exercises caution when dealing with strangers.
Handle
To manage, deal with, or be in charge of.
She handles the company's finances.
Administer
To manage and be responsible for the running of (a business, organization, etc.).
She administers the funds allocated for the project.
Manipulate
To handle or control (a tool, mechanism, information, etc.) in a skillful manner.
He can manipulate the data to support his argument.
Use Idioms & Phrases
Make use of
To utilize something effectively.
Make use of the resources available to you.
Use your head
To think carefully or use common sense.
Use your head before making any hasty decisions.
Put to good use
To employ something in a beneficial way.
The donation was put to good use by the charity.
Have no use for
To not need or want something.
I have no use for excuses; I just want results.
Come into use
To begin to be used.
The new software will come into use next month.
Use it or lose it
If you don't practice a skill, you might forget it.
I need to keep practicing my Spanish; it's a case of use it or lose it.
Go out of use
To stop being used.
The old manufacturing techniques have gone out of use.
For use by
Intended to be used by a specific group or for a specific purpose.
This equipment is for use by trained staff only.
Get/use to your advantage
To utilize something in a way that benefits you.
He got his negotiating skills to his advantage.
Of little/no use
Not very helpful or useful.
This old map is of little use for navigating the modern city.
Ready for use
Prepared and available to be used.
The new software is ready for use after the update.
To what use?
Questioning the effectiveness or purpose of something.
You can try to fix it, but to what use?
Find a use for
To discover a practical or beneficial way to employ something.
She always finds a use for leftover materials.
Put to use
To employ for a particular purpose.
The team put their skills to use in the project.
Use your discretion
To use your judgment to make decisions within certain limits.
You can approve expenses up to $500; beyond that, use your discretion.
Out of use
No longer in operation or being used.
The old fountain in the square is out of use.
Be of use
To be helpful or beneficial.
Let me know if I can be of use in organizing the event.
Use your initiative
To use your judgment to solve problems without needing direct orders.
In this job, you'll need to use your initiative.
In use
Currently being used or operated.
The washing machine is in use at the moment.
Use Example Sentences
He uses his bike to commute to work every day.
She used her charm to persuade the committee.
Use caution when walking on the icy sidewalk.
You can use this app to track your daily activities.
Can I use your phone to make a quick call?
I used a map to find the way to the museum.
We'll use solar panels to generate electricity for the house.
The artist used a variety of colors to create a vibrant painting.
The chef uses fresh herbs to enhance the flavor of dishes.
They've used all the paint; we need to buy more.
To solve the problem, they used a complex mathematical formula.
We used a ladder to reach the high shelves.
He uses humor to make his speeches more engaging.
The company uses advanced technology to improve production efficiency.
She's been using the same brand of shampoo for years.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called use?
"Use" comes from the Old French "user," meaning to employ, consume, or practice, derived from Latin "usare," meaning to make use of, enjoy, or practice habitually.
What is a stressed syllable in use?
The entire word "use" is stressed as it is a monosyllabic word.
How do we divide use into syllables?
Use is not divided into syllables as it consists of only one syllable.
How is use used in a sentence?
"Use" is used to indicate the act of employing or applying something for a particular purpose, e.g., Please use caution when crossing the street.
What is the pronunciation of use?
The pronunciation of "use" is /juːz/ when used as a verb and /juːs/ when used as a noun.
What is the first form of use?
The first form of "use" is "use" as a present tense verb.
How many syllables are in use?
There is one syllable in "use."
What is the root word of use?
The root of "use" is the Latin word "usare," meaning to employ or utilize.
What is the singular form of use?
The singular form is "use."
Is use a negative or positive word?
"Use" is neutral; it can have positive or negative connotations depending on the context.
Is the use term a metaphor?
"Use" can be used metaphorically to imply the application of non-tangible resources like wisdom or opportunities.
What is the verb form of use?
The verb form of "use" is "use," with "used" as its past tense and past participle.
What is the second form of use?
The second form of "use" is "used," indicating the simple past tense.
What part of speech is use?
"Use" can be a verb (to employ) or a noun (the act of using or the state of being used).
Is use a collective noun?
No, "use" is not a collective noun.
Which determiner is used with use?
Determiners such as "a," "the," or possessive pronouns can be used with "use" depending on the context, e.g., "the use of technology."
Which vowel is used before use?
The indefinite article "a" or the definite article "the" can be used before "use" depending on whether it is specified or not, e.g., "a use" or "the use."
What is the third form of use?
The third form of "use" is also "used," serving as the past participle in perfect tenses.
What is another term for use?
Another term for "use" (verb) is "utilize," and for "use" (noun), a synonym could be "utilization."
What is the opposite of use?
The opposite of "use" could be "disuse," "neglect," or "abstain from" depending on the context.
Is use an adverb?
No, "use" is not an adverb.
Is the word use imperative?
"Use" can be used in the imperative mood as a command or instruction, e.g., "Use caution."
Which article is used with use?
The articles "a" or "the" are used with "use" based on specificity, e.g., "a use" (any use) or "the use" (a specific use).
What is the plural form of use?
The plural form of "use" as a noun is "uses."
Is the word “use” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In sentences like "I use the pen," "the pen" is the direct object of the verb "use."
Which preposition is used with use?
Prepositions like "of," "for," and "in" are often used with "use," depending on the context, e.g., "use of resources," "use for cooking," "in use."
Is use a noun or adjective?
"Use" can be a noun referring to the act of employing something or a verb. It is not typically used as an adjective.
Is use an abstract noun?
As a noun, "use" can be considered abstract since it refers to a concept or action rather than a physical object.
Is use a vowel or consonant?
The word "use" starts with a vowel sound.
Is use a countable noun?
Yes, "use" as a noun is countable; you can have multiple uses.
Is the word use Gerund?
"Using" is the gerund form of the verb "use."
Which conjunction is used with use?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "use" when linking ideas or clauses.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Term
Relyon Definition and Meaning
Next Term
Compare Definition and MeaningAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
