Pronunciations (14)
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/juːs/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/jus/
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- General-American
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[jɪu̯s]
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- General-American
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/(j)ɪu̯s/
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/jʉːs/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- New-Zealand
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/jʉs/
Pronunciation notes
- Northern-Ireland
- Scotland
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/juːz/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/juz/
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- General-American
-
[jɪu̯z]
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- General-American
-
/(j)ɪu̯z/
-
/jʉːz/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- New-Zealand
-
/jʉz/
Pronunciation notes
- Northern-Ireland
- Scotland
-
[jʉːz]
Pronunciation notes
- Northern-Ireland
- Scotland
-
juːs
Noun
The act of using.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The use of phones is not allowed here.
The use of torture has been condemned by the United Nations.
More examples (2)
[…]long john underwear, heavy socks, rubber boots, thick flannel shirts, oilskins — it all wore and tore and sprung holes from the hard use of battling storm and bad weather.
In his submission to the UN, Heyns points to the experience of drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles were intended initially only for surveillance, and their use for offensive purposes was prohibited, yet once strategists realised their perceived advantages as a means of carrying out targeted killings, all objections were swept out of the way.
The act of consuming alcohol or narcotics.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
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Heavy alcohol use (2.5 drinks per day or more) at any age is unhealthy and should be avoided.
Usefulness, utility, benefit; purpose, point.
Usage- Uncountable
- followed by of
- Synonyms
- Examples
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What is the use of this button?
Near-synonyms: meaning, meaningfulness
What's the use of a law that nobody follows?
More examples (3)
There's no use in spewing a million words about it; whatever will be, will be.
God made two great lights, great for their use / To man.
'Tis use alone that sanctifies expense.
A function; a purpose for which something may be employed.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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This tool has many uses.
More examples (1)
The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use.
Occasion or need to employ; necessity.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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I have no further use for these textbooks, but we may have use for all these other things later.
Interest for lent money; premium paid for the use of something; usury.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Rare
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
DON PEDRO. Come, lady, come; you have lost the heart of Signior Benedick. BEATRICE. Indeed, my lord, he lent it me awhile; and I gave him use for it, a double heart for a single one: [...]
Thou art more obliged to pay duty and tribute, use and principal, to him.
Continued or repeated practice; usage; habit.
Usage- Archaic
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Let later age that noble vse enuie,
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, / Seem to me all the uses of this world!
More examples (1)
For the next yeere 1527. the negotiations of a Councell were buried in silence; according to the vse of humane affaires, that in the time of warre, prouision for lawes hath no place.
Common occurrence; ordinary experience.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- Examples
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O Caesar! these things are beyond all use.
A special form of a rite adopted for use in a particular context, often a diocese.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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the Sarum, or Canterbury, use; the York use; the Ordinariate use
From henceforth all the whole realm shall have but one use.
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.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Verb
To utilize or employ. To employ; to apply; to utilize.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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You can use my computer.
Use this knife to slice the bread.
We can use this mathematical formula to solve the problem.
More examples (1)
Plant breeding is always a numbers game. […] The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, and individual plants are highly heterozygous and do not breed true. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better.
To utilize or employ. To expend; to consume by employing.
Usage- often
- Transitive
- with-up
- Examples
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I used the money they allotted me.
We should use up most of the fuel.
More examples (1)
She used all the time allotted to complete the test.
To utilize or employ. To exploit.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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He used his friends to get a better job.
You never cared about me; you just used me!
More examples (1)
Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis: the ability to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and waste oxygen using solar energy.
To utilize or employ. To consume (alcohol, drugs, etc), especially regularly.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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He uses cocaine.
I have never used drugs.
To utilize or employ. To consume a previously specified substance, especially a drug to which one is addicted.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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Richard began experimenting with cocaine last year; now he uses almost every day.
To utilize or employ. To benefit from; to be able to employ or stand.
Usage- Transitive
- with auxiliary “could”
- Examples
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I could use a drink.
My car could use a new coat of paint.
To utilize or employ. To suggest or request that other people employ a specific set of gender pronouns when referring to the subject.
Usage- Transitive
- with gender pronouns as object
- Synonyms
- Examples
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I use they/them pronouns.
More examples (1)
The "Older" [butch] group is maintained by three administrators who all use she/her pronouns and two moderators, one of whom uses they'them pronouns while the other uses she/her.
To accustom; to habituate. (Now common only in participial form. Uses the same pronunciation as the noun; see usage notes.)
- Examples
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soldiers who are used to hardships and danger
to use the soldiers to hardships and danger
More examples (1)
Thou with thy compeers, / Used to the yoke, draw’st his triumphant wheels.
To accustom; to habituate. (Now common only in participial form. Uses the same pronunciation as the noun; see usage notes.) To accustom oneself.
Usage- Obsolete
- Reflexive
- with “to”
- Examples
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More examples (3)
It is not without some difficulty, that a man born in society can form an idea of such savages, and their condition; and unless he has used himself to abstract thinking, he can hardly represent to himself such a state of simplicity, in which man can have so few desires, and no appetites roving beyond the immediate call of untaught nature […]
1742, Samuel Richardson, Pamela, London: S. Richardson, 4th edition, Volume 3, Letter 12, p. 53, So that reading constantly, and thus using yourself to write, and enjoying besides the Benefit of a good Memory, every thing you heard or read, became your own […]
1769, John Leland, Discourses on Various Subjects, London: W. Johnston and J. Dodsley, Volume 1, Discourse 16, p. 311, […] we must be constant and faithful to our Words and Promises, and use ourselves to be so even in smaller Matters […]
We are not long in using ourselves to changes in life.
The family troubles, she thought, were easier for every one than for her—even for poor dear mamma, because she had always used herself to not enjoying.
To habitually do; to be wont to do. (Now chiefly in past-tense forms; see used to.)
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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I used to live in this street.
I used to get things done.
More examples (1)
Peter Pol, doctor in divinitie used to sit upon his mule, who as Monstrelet reporteth, was wont to ride up and downe the streets of Paris, ever sitting sideling, as women use.
Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
More examples (3)
For in the Rites of funeration they did use to anoint the dead body, with Aromatick Spices and Oyntments, before they buried them.
I do not use to let my wife be acquainted with the secret affairs of my state; they are not within a woman’s province.
Such smokes use ever to go before the fire.
To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat.
Usage- Dated
- Examples
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to use an animal cruelly
See who it is: and, now the battle’s ended, If friend or foe, let him be gently used.
More examples (6)
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men / Lov’d, honour’d, fear’d me, thou alone could hate me / Thy Husband, slight me, sell me, forgo me; / How wouldst thou use me now, blind, and thereby / Deceivable […]
Cato has used me Ill: He has refused / His Daughter Marcia to my ardent Vows.
This is an exact Inventory of what we found about the Body of the Man-Mountain, who uſed us with great Civility, and due Reſpect to your Majefty's Commiſſion.
“I hope,” said Jones, “you don’t intend to leave me in this condition.” “Indeed but I shall,” said the other. “Then,” said Jones, “you have used me rascally, and I will not pay you a farthing.”
"Oh, how dare you, or any one, to speak of her so! She used me as if I had been her dearest child. She was more kind to me than a mother. There is no one in the world like her!" Mary cried.
To behave, act, comport oneself.
Usage- Obsolete
- Reflexive
- Examples
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More examples (2)
1551, Thomas More, Utopia, London: B. Alsop & T. Fawcet, 1639, “Of Bond-men, Sicke persons, Wedlocke, and divers other matters,” page 231, They live together lovingly: For no Magistrate is either haughty or fearefull. Fathers they be called, and like fathers they use themselves.
c. 1558, George Cavendish, The Life and Death of Thomas Wolsey, cardinal, edited by Grace H. M. Simpson, London: R. & T. Washbourne, 1901, page 57, I pray to God that this may be a sufficient admonition unto thee to use thyself more wisely hereafter, for assure thyself that if thou dost not amend thy prodigality, thou wilt be the last Earl of our house.
Noun
the act of using
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he warned against the use of narcotic drugs
skilled in the utilization of computers
what something is used for
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the function of an auger is to bore holes
ballet is beautiful but what use is it?
a particular service
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he put his knowledge to good use
patrons have their uses
(economics) the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the consumption of energy has increased steadily
(psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition
- Synonyms
- Examples
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owls have nocturnal habits
she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair
More examples (1)
long use had hardened him to it
exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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his manipulation of his friends was scandalous
(law) the exercise of the legal right to enjoy the benefits of owning property
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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we were given the use of his boat
Verb
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
- Examples
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use your head!
we only use Spanish at home
More examples (7)
I can't use 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)
- Synonyms
- Examples
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She uses drugs rarely
seek or achieve an end by using to one's advantage
- Examples
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She uses her influential friends to get jobs
The president's wife used her good connections
avail oneself to
- Examples
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apply a principle
practice a religion
More examples (3)
use care when going down the stairs
use your common sense
practice non-violent resistance
habitually do something or be in a certain state or place (use only in the past tense)
- Examples
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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
More examples (2)
They used to vacation in the Bahamas
she used to be his best friend and now they are enemies
use up (resources or materials)
- Examples
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this car consumes a lot of gas
We exhausted our savings
More examples (1)
They run through 20 bottles of wine a week