use meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

use

noun

UK /juːs/ · CA, US /jus/

Etymology Inherited from Middle English use, from Old French us, from Latin ūsus (“use, custom, skill, habit”), from past participle stem of ūtor (“use”). Displaced native Middle English note (“use”) (see note) from Old English notu; Middle English nutte (“use”) from Old English nytt; as well as Old English fricu and Old English sidu.

10 senses

1The act of using.
2The act of consuming alcohol or narcotics.
3Usefulness, utility, benefit; purpose, point.
4A function; a purpose for which something may be employed.
5Occasion or need to employ; necessity.
6Interest for lent money; premium paid for the use of…
7Continued or repeated practice; usage; habit.
8Common occurrence; ordinary experience.
9A special form of a rite adopted for use in a particular…
10A slab of iron welded to the side of a forging, such as…

The act of using.

The use of torture has been condemned by the United Nations.
[…]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.1962, Curtis Bok, Maria: a Tale of the Northeast Coast and of the North Atlantic, New York, page 127:

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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.2013 June 7, Ed Pilkington, “‘Killer robots’ should be banned in advance, UN told”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 6:

The act of consuming alcohol or narcotics.

Heavy alcohol use (2.5 drinks per day or more) at any age is unhealthy and should be avoided.2018, Timothy R. Jennings, The Aging Brain, →ISBN, page 93:

Followed by of Usefulness, utility, benefit; purpose, point.

Near-synonyms: meaning, meaningfulness
What's the use of a law that nobody follows?

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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.1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
'Tis use alone that sanctifies expense.1731, Alexander Pope, “Epistle IV: Of the Use of Riches”, in Moral Essays; republished in The Complete Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, Boston, New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1902, page 173:

A function; a purpose for which something may be employed.

This tool has many uses.
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.2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:

Occasion or need to employ; necessity.

I have no further use for these textbooks.

Obsolete, Rare Interest for lent money; premium paid for the use of something; usury.

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: [...]1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
Thou art more obliged to pay duty and tribute, use and principal, to him.1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC:

Archaic Continued or repeated practice; usage; habit.

Let later age that noble vse enuie,1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 13:
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, / Seem to me all the uses of this world!c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

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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.1629 [1619], Paolo Sarpi, translated by Nathaniel Brent, The Historie of the Councel of Trent […], London: Bonham Norton and John Bill, →OCLC, book 1, paragraph 96, page 43:

Obsolete Common occurrence; ordinary experience.

O Caesar! these things are beyond all use.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:

Christianity A special form of a rite adopted for use in a particular context, often a diocese.

the Sarum, or Canterbury, use; the York use; the Ordinariate use
From henceforth all the whole realm shall have but one use.1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC:

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.

Derived terms: 64 terms
alcohol use disorder, as much use as a chocolate fireguard, as much use as a chocolate teapot, caffeine use disorder, can I use your phone, cestuy que use, come in use, compassionate use, disuse, do you need to use the bathroom, drug use, dual-use, dual-use research of concern, free use, go out of use, have no use for, hyper-use, ill-use, in-use, in use, it's no use, land-use, land use, make use, meanwhile use, misuse, mixed-use, neither use nor ornament, non-use, no use, of any use, of some use, of use, old use, out of use, overuse, point of use, private-use character, put to good use, put to use, reuse, shared use path, single-use, terms of use, therapeutic use exemption, there's no use, there's no use crying over spilt milk, time-of-check to time-of-use, time-of-use meter, time-of-use rates, time-use, time-use research, time-use survey, tolerated use, underuse, use and wont, use case, useful, useless, usement, use tax, use value, value in use, what's the use

use

verb

UK /juːz/ · CA, US /juz/

Etymology Inherited from Middle English usen, from Old French user (“use, employ, practice”), from Medieval Latin usare (“use”), frequentative form of past participle stem of Latin uti (“to use”). Displaced native Middle English noten, nutten (“to use”) (from Old English notian, nēotan, nyttian) and Middle English brouken, bruken (“to use, enjoy”) (from Old English brūcan).

12 senses

1To employ; to apply; to utilize.
2To expend; to consume by employing.
3To exploit.
4To consume (alcohol, drugs, etc), especially regularly.
5To consume a previously specified substance, especially…
6To benefit from; to be able to employ or stand.
7To suggest or request that other people employ a…
8To accustom; to habituate. (Now common only in…
9To accustom oneself.
10To habitually do; to be wont to do. (Now chiefly in…
11To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat.
12To behave, act, comport oneself.

› To utilize or employ.

To employ; to apply; to utilize.

Use this knife to slice the bread.
We can use this mathematical formula to solve the problem.

1 more example

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.2013 May-June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:

Often, With up To expend; to consume by employing.

I used the money they allotted me.
We should use up most of the fuel.

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She used all the time allotted to complete the test.

To exploit.

You never cared about me; you just used me!
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.2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:

To consume (alcohol, drugs, etc), especially regularly.

He uses cocaine.
I have never used drugs.

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.

With auxiliary "could" To benefit from; to be able to employ or stand.

I could use a drink.
My car could use a new coat of paint.

With gender pronouns as object To suggest or request that other people employ a specific set of gender pronouns when referring to the subject.

I use they/them pronouns.
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.2023, Brianna I. Wiens, Michelle MacArthur, Shana MacDonald, Milena Radzikowska, Stories of Feminist Protest and Resistance: Digital Performative Assemblies, Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 92:

To accustom; to habituate. (Now common only in participial form. Uses the same pronunciation as the noun; see usage notes.)

soldiers who are used to hardships and danger
to use the soldiers to hardships and danger

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Thou with thy compeers, / Used to the yoke, draw’st his triumphant wheels.1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

Obsolete, With "to" To accustom oneself.

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 […]1714, Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees, London: T. Ostell, published 1806, Sixth Dialogue, p. 466:
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 […]

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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.1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
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.1876, George Eliot, Daniel Deronda, Book 3, Chapter 24:

To habitually do; to be wont to do. (Now chiefly in past-tense forms; see used to.)

Archaic or literary except in past tense

I used to get things done.
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.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 48, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

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Use hospitality one to another without grudging.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Peter 4:9:
For in the Rites of funeration they did use to anoint the dead body, with Aromatick Spices and Oyntments, before they buried them.1693, Sir Norman Knatchbull, Annotations upon some difficult texts in all the books of the New Testament:
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.1764, Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto, section II:
Such smokes use ever to go before the fire.1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 8:

Dated To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat.

to use an animal cruelly
See who it is: and, now the battle’s ended, If friend or foe, let him be gently used.c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vi]:

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Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 6:28:
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 […]1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
Cato has used me Ill: He has refused / His Daughter Marcia to my ardent Vows.1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 6:
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.1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Emperor of Lilliput, Attended by Several of the Nobility, Come to See the Author in His Confinement. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 43:

Obsolete To behave, act, comport oneself.

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.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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Conjugation of “use”, all tenses