use
use
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "use" depends on its part of speech:
Verb (to use): /juːz/
/juːz/
Noun (the use): /juːs/
/juːs/
Word Form Variations
Verb: use (base form), uses (third person singular present), using (present participle), used (past simple, past participle)
Noun: use (singular, often uncountable), uses (plural)
Adjective: used (past participle used adjectivally), usable (derived adjective)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To put (something) into service for a particular purpose; to apply or employ.
Synonyms: employ, operate, utilize, apply, exert, wield
Antonyms: disuse, neglect, abandon, discard, misuse
Definition 2: To expend or consume (a supply or resource).
Synonyms: consume, expend, deplete, spend, exhaust, wear out
Antonyms: conserve, save, preserve, accumulate, produce
Definition 3: To take advantage of (a person or situation), often in a manipulative or unfair way.
Synonyms: exploit, manipulate, take advantage of, capitalize on, leverage
Antonyms: respect, treat fairly, aid, help, benefit
Definition 4: (Often "used to") To be accustomed to or familiar with something through habit or experience.
Example usage: "She is used to the cold weather."
Synonyms: accustomed to, habituated to, familiar with, inured to
Antonyms: unaccustomed to, unfamiliar with, new to
Noun
Definition 1: The action of putting something into service for a particular purpose; the act of using something.
Synonyms: utilization, application, employment, operation, handling
Antonyms: disuse, non-use, neglect, abandonment
Definition 2: The purpose for which something is used; its function or utility.
Synonyms: purpose, function, utility, benefit, advantage, applicability
Antonyms: uselessness, futility, disadvantage, irrelevance, disutility
Definition 3: The right or permission to use something.
Synonyms: access, permission, right, privilege, benefit
Antonyms: denial, prohibition, restriction, exclusion
Definition 4: The habit or practice of doing something regularly.
Synonyms: custom, habit, practice, convention, tradition
Antonyms: disuse, cessation, discontinuation, novelty
Adjective (Past Participle 'used' used adjectivally)
Definition 1: Having been utilized or employed; not new.
Synonyms: second-hand, pre-owned, worn, old, recycled
Antonyms: new, unused, pristine, fresh
Definition 2: Accustomed to; familiar with (often followed by 'to').
Synonyms: accustomed, familiar, habituated, inured
Antonyms: unaccustomed, unfamiliar, new (to), strange (to)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He found the courage to use his voice, speaking truth to power despite the risks." (Fictional example from a dramatic or political novel)
"The book offers practical advice on how to use technology responsibly and ethically in daily life." (From a non-fiction book on digital literacy or ethics)
"The archaic dialect made the text difficult to understand, as many of its words were no longer in common use." (From a linguistic study or historical literature)
Newspapers:
"The government announced new guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in public services." (Daily Nation)
"Businesses are urged to optimize their energy use to mitigate the impact of rising electricity costs." (Business Daily Africa)
"The police cautioned the public against the illegal use of firearms in residential areas." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"How to use social media effectively for your small business: A marketing guide." (An article on a business blog, e.g., HubSpot)
"Our comprehensive review of used cars: What to look for before you buy." (An article on an automotive review site, e.g., Edmunds.com)
"Learn to use Python for data analysis: A beginner's tutorial series." (An article on a programming tutorial website, e.g., Real Python)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "May the Force be with you." (Star Wars, 1977) - This implicitly refers to the power one can "use."
Television Series: "For your next challenge, you must use only natural ingredients to prepare a gourmet meal." (Instructions on a cooking competition show, e.g., MasterChef)
Song Lyrics: "I can't live with or without you." (U2, "With or Without You," 1987) - This relates to the essential "use" or presence of another person.
Video Games: "Press X to use the item." (A common on-screen instruction in video games, e.g., The Legend of Zelda)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we explore the ethical dilemmas of useing gene-editing technology in humans." (A podcast on science and ethics, e.g., Radiolab)
General Public Discourse:
"Can I use your pen for a moment?" (A common request)
"What's the use of complaining? It won't change anything." (A common rhetorical question expressing futility)
"I'm not used to this cold weather; I prefer sunshine." (A statement about unfamiliarity)
"This old phone is still in good use." (Describing the condition of an item)
"We need to make
10 Quotes Using Use
"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates, as quoted by Plato in Apology) - This implies that self-reflection is the proper use of one's life.
"The measure of a man is what he does with power." (Plato) - This relates to the use of power.
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." (Lord Acton) - This warns about the dangerous use of power.
"Knowledge is power." (Francis Bacon) - This implicitly refers to the use of knowledge to gain power.
"It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary." (Winston Churchill)
"Make good use of time, it flies fast." (Unknown, widely shared proverb)
"The greatest use of a life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." (William James)
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." (Maya Angelou) - This speaks to the purposeful use of one's life.
"Common sense is not so common." (Voltaire) - This implies that the use of common sense is rarer than one might expect.
"If you want to be successful, it's just this simple. Know what you are doing. Love what you are doing. And believe in what you are doing." (Will Rogers) - This speaks to the effective use of one's skills and passion.
Etymology
The word "use" has a long and consistent history, coming from Latin through French.
It comes from the Old French verb user.
This Old French word meant "to employ," "to make use of," "to practice," or "to wear out."
User, in turn, came from the Latin verb usāri.
In Latin, usāri meant "to make use of," "to employ," or "to practice." It was related to ūtor, meaning "I use."
So, when "use" first entered the English language, in the early 12th century (around 1125), its initial meaning was very similar to its Latin root: "to employ (something) for some purpose," or "to put into practice." This meaning has remained consistently central for over 900 years.
The noun sense (e.g., "the use of a tool") developed from the verb around the mid-13th century. The past participle "used" (as in "used car") indicating something that is no longer new, developed from the sense of something that has been "worn out" through use.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Use
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "use":
To make use of (something): To utilize or take advantage of something.
What's the use?: A rhetorical question expressing futility or hopelessness.
It's no use (doing something): It is pointless or ineffective.
To be used to (something): To be accustomed or familiar with something through habit.
To get used to (something): To become accustomed or familiar with something.
To put something to good use: To use something effectively and beneficially.
To have no use for (something/someone): To have no need for or interest in; to disdain.
To use one's head: To think intelligently or logically.
To use up: To finish or consume completely.
To kick the habit: To stop an undesirable practice. (Synonymous with "to cease use" of something addictive).
Of no use: Useless; ineffective. (Synonym for "useless")
To go out of use: To become obsolete or no longer practiced.
To get the most out of (something): To maximize the benefit or utility. (Synonymous with "optimal use").
To try one's hand at: To attempt something for the first time. (Implies putting skills "to use").
To handle with care: To operate or manipulate something carefully. (Related to the way one "uses" an object).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of use from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
