Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense uses, present participle using, past tense, past participle used
1. verb
If you use something, you do something with it in order to do a job or to achieve a particular result or effect.
Trim off the excess pastry using a sharp knife. [VERB noun]
He had simply used a little imagination. [VERB noun]
Officials used loud hailers to call for calm. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
The show uses Zondo's trial and execution as its framework. [VERB noun preposition]
Synonyms: employ, utilize, make use of, work More Synonyms of use
2. verb
If you use a supply of something, you finish it so that none of it is left.
You used all the ice cubes and didn't put the ice trays back. [VERB noun]
They've never had anything spare–they've always used it all. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: consume, go through, exhaust, spend More Synonyms of use
Use up means the same as use1.
It isn't them who use up the world's resources. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
We were breathing really fast, and using the air up quickly. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
3. verb
If someone uses drugs, they take drugs regularly, especially illegal ones.
He denied he had used drugs. [VERB noun]
4. verb
You can say that someone uses the toilet or bathroom as a polite way of saying that they go to the toilet.
[politeness]
Wash your hands after using the toilet. [VERB noun]
He asked whether he could use my bathroom. [VERB noun]
5. verb
If you use a particular word or expression, you say or write it, because it has the meaning that you want to express.
The judge liked using the word 'wicked' of people he had sent to jail. [VERB noun]
When Johnson talks about cuts, he uses words like 'target price' and 'efficiencypayments'. [VERB noun]
6. verb
If you use a particular name, you call yourself by that name, especially when it is not the name that you usually call yourself.
Now I use a false name if I'm meeting people for the first time. [VERB noun]
I didn't want to use my married name because we've split. [VERB noun]
7. verb
If you say that someone uses people, you disapprove of them because they make others do things for them in order to benefit or gain some advantage from it, and not because they care about the other people.
[disapproval]
Be careful she's not just using you. [VERB noun]
Why do I have the feeling I'm being used again? [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: take advantage of, exploit, manipulate, abuse More Synonyms of use
8. See also used1
More Synonyms of use
use noun uses
(juːs)
Word forms: plural uses
1. uncountable noun [oft aNOUN]
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
The treatment does not involve the use of any artificial drugs. [+ of]
…research into gene therapy and its use in treating certain conditions.
We are denied use of the land by the ruling classes. [+ of]
He would support a use of force if the U.N. deemed it necessary. [+ of]
Synonyms: usage, employment, utilization, operation More Synonyms of use
2. singular noun
If you have a use for something, you need it or can find something to do with it.
You will no longer have a use for the magazines. [+ for]
They both loved the fabric, but couldn't find a use for it. [+ for]
Synonyms: purpose, call, need, end More Synonyms of use
3. variable noun [oft adjective NOUN]
If something has a particular use, it is intended for a particular purpose.
Infrared detectors have many uses.
It's an interesting scientific phenomenon, but of no practical use whatever.
French furniture was designed for every use.
The report outlined possible uses for the new weapon. [+ for]
...elderflower water for use as an eye and skin lotion. [+ as]
We need to recognize that certain uses of the land upon which we live are simplywrong. [+ of]
[Also + in]
4. uncountable noun [oft theNOUN]
If you have the useof something, you have the permission or ability to use it.
She will have the use of the car one night a week. [+ of]
...young people who at some point in the past have lost the use of their limbs. [+ of]
You will have full use of all the new leisure club facilities. [+ of]
5. countable noun
A use of a word is a particular meaning that it has or a particular way in which it canbe used.
There are new uses of words coming in and old uses dying out. [+ of]
6. uncountable noun
Your use of a particular name is the fact of your calling yourself by it.
Police have been hampered by Mr Urquhart's use of bogus names. [+ of]
7.
See for the use of
8.
See have its uses
9.
See in use
10.
See make use of
11.
See it's no use/there's no use
12.
See it's no use
13.
See be of use/be no use
use in British English
verb (juːz)(transitive)
1.
to put into service or action; employ for a given purpose
to use a spoon to stir with
2.
to make a practice or habit of employing; exercise
he uses his brain
3.
to behave towards
to use a friend well
4.
to behave towards in a particular way for one's own ends
he uses people
5.
to consume, expend, or exhaust
the engine uses very little oil
6. mainly US and Canadian
to partake of (alcoholic drink, drugs, etc) or smoke (tobacco, marijuana, etc)
noun (juːs)
7.
the act of using or the state of being used
the carpet wore out through constant use
8.
the ability, right, or permission to use
9.
the occasion to use; need
I have no use for this paper
10.
an instance or manner of using
11.
usefulness; advantage
it is of no use to complain
12.
custom; practice; habit
long use has inured him to it
13.
the purpose for which something is used; end
14. Christianity
a distinctive form of liturgical or ritual observance, esp one that is traditional in a Church or group of Churches
15.
the enjoyment of property, land, etc, by occupation or by deriving revenue or other benefit from it
16. law
the beneficial enjoyment of property the legal title to which is held by another person as trustee
17. law an archaic word for trust (sense 7)
18. philosophy, logic, linguistics
the occurrence of an expression in such a context that it performs its own linguistic function rather than being itself referred to. In "Fido" refers to Fido, the name Fido is 'used' only on the second occurrence, first being mentioned
Compare mention (sense 7), See also material mode
19. have no use for
20. make use of
Word origin
C13: from Old French user to use, from Latin ūsus having used, from ūtī to use
use in American English
(juz; for n. jus)
verb transitiveWord forms: used (juzd; with `to' usually ˈjustə) or ˈusing
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
5.
a.
to smoke or chew (tobacco)
b.
to take or consume habitually
to use drugs
6.
to make familiar; accustom
used in the passive with to
to become used to certain ways
7.
to exploit or treat (a person) as a means to some selfish end
verb intransitive
8.
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
9. Chiefly Dialectal
to frequent; resort
noun
10.
the act of using or the state of being used
11.
the power or ability to use
to regain the use of an injured hand
12.
the right or permission to use
to grant a neighbor the use of one's car
13.
the need, opportunity, or occasion to use
no further use for his services
14.
an instance or way of using
15.
the quality that makes a thing useful or suitable for a given purpose; advantage; usefulness; worth; utility
16.
the object, end, or purpose for which something is used
17.
function, service, or benefit
18.
constant, continued, customary, or habitual employment, practice, or exercise, or an instance of this; custom; habit; practice; wont
19.
the particular form of ritual or liturgy practiced in a given church, diocese, etc.
20. Law
a.
the enjoyment of property, as from occupying, employing, or exercising it
b.
profit, benefit, or advantage, esp. that from lands and tenements held in trust by another
Idioms:
have no use for
in use
make use of
put to use
SYNONYMY NOTE: use implies the putting of a thing (or, usually in an opprobrious sense, a person regardedas 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 notin 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]
Word origin
ME usen < OFr user < VL *usare < L usus, pp. of uti, to use; (sense 20b) infl. by OFr ues, gain < L opus, a work
More idioms containing
use
use every trick in the book
no use to man or beast
it's no use crying over spilled milk
COBUILD Collocations
use
constant use
exclusive use
illegal use
imaginative use
improper use
limited use
practical use
productive use
regular use
Examples of 'use' in a sentence
use
The small tower room had been given to Sameth on his sixteenth birthday and had had much use since then.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
Not an experienced rider, Mikel clung grimly to the pommel until he remembered to use the reins.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
A babe who was acquiring knowledge she lacked the judgment to use wisely, at a frightening rate.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
In other languages
use
British English: use /juːs/ NOUN
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
The treatment does not involve the use of any artificial drugs.
American English: use
Arabic: اِسْتِخْدَام
Brazilian Portuguese: uso
Chinese: 使用
Croatian: uporaba
Czech: užívání použití
Danish: brug
Dutch: gebruik
European Spanish: uso
Finnish: käyttö
French: utilisation
German: Verwendung
Greek: χρήση
Italian: uso
Japanese: 使用
Korean: 사용
Norwegian: bruk
Polish: użytek
European Portuguese: uso
Romanian: utilizare
Russian: использование
Latin American Spanish: uso
Swedish: användning
Thai: การใช้
Turkish: kullanım
Ukrainian: використання
Vietnamese: việc sử dụng
British English: use /juːz/ VERB
If you use something, you do something with it.
Use a cloth to clean the table.
American English: use
Arabic: يَسْتَخْدِمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: usar
Chinese: 使用
Croatian: rabiti
Czech: použít
Danish: bruge
Dutch: gebruiken
European Spanish: usar
Finnish: käyttää
French: utiliser
German: verwenden
Greek: χρησιμοποιώ
Italian: usare
Japanese: 使用する
Korean: 사용하다
Norwegian: bruke
Polish: użyć
European Portuguese: usar
Romanian: a folosi
Russian: использовать
Latin American Spanish: usar
Swedish: använda
Thai: ใช้
Turkish: kullanmak
Ukrainian: використовувати
Vietnamese: sử dụng
All related terms of 'use'
cayuse
a small Native American pony used by cowboys
in use
If something such as a technique, building, or machine is in use , it is used regularly by people. If it has gone out of use , it is no longer used regularly by people.
use up
to finish (a supply); consume completely
ill-use
to use badly or cruelly; abuse ; maltreat
dual-use
→ dual-purpose ; specif., designating or of machinery , technology , etc. having both civilian and military applications
over-use
to use excessively
Sarum use
the distinctive local rite or system of rites used at Salisbury cathedral in late medieval times
illegal use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
limited use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
regular use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
single-use
made to be used once only
constant use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
exclusive use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
improper use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
practical use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
put to use
to use; find a use for
cost-in-use
the cost of owning, running , or using something
imaginative use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
it's no use
If you say it's no use , you mean that you have failed to do something and realize that it is useless to continue trying because it is impossible .
make use of
If you make use of something, you do something with it in order to do a job or achieve a particular result or effect.
productive use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
use-by date
the date by which perishable goods should be used
use ingredients
Ingredients are the things that are used to make something, especially all the different foods you use when you are cooking a particular dish .
use technology
Technology refers to methods, systems, and devices which are the result of scientific knowledge being used for practical purposes.
for external use
If medicine is for external use , it is intended to be used only on the outside of your body, and not to be eaten or drunk.
for the use of
If something is for the use of a particular person or group of people, it is for that person or group to use.
have no use for
to have no need of
be of use/be no use
If something or someone is of use , they are useful . If they are no use , they are not at all useful.
intravenous drug use
the injection of drugs intravenously
to use shock tactics
to attempt to influence people by shocking them
it's no use/there's no use
You use expressions such as it's no use , there's no use , and what's the use to indicate that a particular action will not achieve anything.
no use to man or beast
completely useless
a fat lot of good/use/help
If you say that something is a fat lot of good or a fat lot of help , you are saying rudely that it is no good or no help at all.
use every trick in the book
to do everything you can think of in order to succeed in something
it's no use crying over spilled milk
said to mean that it is pointless to worry or be upset about something that has happened and cannot be changed
Chinese translation of 'use'
use
(njuːs; vbjuːz)
n
(u/s) (= using) 使用 (shǐyòng)
⇒ the use of artificial drugs人造药品的使用 (rénzào yàopǐn de shǐyòng)
(c/u) (= purpose) 用途 (yòngtú) (种(種), zhǒng)
⇒ Metal detectors have many uses.金属探测器有很多用途。 (Jīnshǔ tàncèqì yǒu hěn duō yòngtú.)
(c)[of word]用法 (yòngfǎ) (种(種), zhǒng)
⇒ Old uses of some words are dying out.一些词的旧用法正逐渐消失。 (Yīxiē cí de jiù yòngfǎ zhèng zhújiàn xiāoshī.)
vt
[object, tool]使用 (shǐyòng)
[word, phrase]应(應)用 (yìngyòng)
(pej)[person]利用 (lìyòng)
[supply] (also use up) 用完 (yòngwán)
⇒ You've used all the ice cubes.你用掉了所有的冰块。 (Nǐ yòngdiàole suǒyǒu de bīngkuài.)
to be in use正被使用 (zhèng bèi shǐyòng)
to go out of use不再被使用 (bù zài bèi shǐyòng)
to be of use (to sb)(对(對)某人)有用 ((duì mǒurén) yǒuyòng)
to make use of sth利用某物 (lìyòng mǒuwù)
it's no use没(沒)用的 (méiyòng de)
it's no use arguing/crying etc吵/哭等是没(沒)用的 (chǎo/kū děng shì méiyòng de)
what's the use!有什么(麼)用呢！ (yǒu shénme yòng ne!)
to be no use (to sb)(对(對)某人)毫无(無)用处(處) ((duì mǒurén) háowú yòngchu)
to have a use for sth用得着(著)某物 (yòng de zháo mǒuwù)
to have the use of sth使用某物 (shǐyòng mǒuwù)
she used to do it她过(過)去是这(這)么(麼)做的 (tā guòqù shì zhème zuò de)
I didn't use to or I used not to worry so much我过(過)去不这(這)么(麼)焦虑(慮) (wǒ guòqù bù zhème jiāolǜ)
to be used to sth/to doing sth习(習)惯(慣)于(於)某事/做某事 (xíguàn yú mǒushì/zuò mǒushì)
to get used to sth/to doing sth开(開)始习(習)惯(慣)于(於)某事/做某事 (kāishǐ xíguàn yú mǒushì/zuò mǒushì)
All related terms of 'use'
use up
用完 yòngwán
it's no use
没(沒)用的 méiyòng de
in common use
常用 chángyòng
ready for use
待用 dàiyòng
to be in use
正被使用 zhèng bèi shǐyòng
use your loaf!
( Brit : inf ) 动(動)动(動)脑(腦)筋！ dòngdòng nǎojīn!
what's the use!
有什么(麼)用呢！ yǒu shénme yòng ne!
directions for use
使用说(說)明 shǐyòng shuōmíng
to go out of use
不再被使用 bù zài bèi shǐyòng
to make use of sth
利用某物 lìyòng mǒuwù
for external use only
( Med ) 只供外用 zhǐ gōng wàiyòng
to use one's discretion
( frm ) 由某人自行决(決)定 yóu mǒurén zìxíng juédìng
can I use your phone?
我可以用你的电(電)话(話)吗(嗎)？ wǒ kěyǐ yòng nǐ de diànhuà ma?
to have a use for sth
用得着(著)某物 yòng de zháo mǒuwù
to have the use of sth
使用某物 shǐyòng mǒuwù
have exclusive use of sth
有使用某物的专(專)有权(權) yǒu shǐyòng mǒuwù de zhuānyǒuquán
to use a knife in defence
用匕首防身 yòng bǐshǒu fángshēn
it's no use arguing/crying etc
吵/哭 等 是没(沒)用的 chǎo/kū děng shì méiyòng de
to use or turn sth to one's advantage
使某事转(轉)化为(為)对(對)自己有利 shǐ mǒushì zhuànhuà wéi duì zìjǐ yǒulì