Use

Verb (used with object)

to employ for some purpose; put into service; make use of

to use a knife.

to avail oneself of; apply to one's own purposes

to use the facilities.

to expend or consume in use

We have used the money provided.

to treat or behave toward

He did not use his employees with much consideration.

to take unfair advantage of; exploit

to use people to gain one's own ends.

to drink, smoke, or ingest habitually

to use drugs.

to habituate or accustom.

Archaic . to practice habitually or customarily; make a practice of.

Verb (used without object)

to be accustomed, wont, or customarily found (used with an infinitive expressed or understood, and, except in archaic use, now only in the past)

He used to go every day.

Archaic . to resort, stay, or dwell customarily.

Noun

the act of employing, using, or putting into service

the use of tools.

the state of being employed or used.

an instance or way of employing or using something

proper use of the tool; the painter's use of color.

a way of being employed or used; a purpose for which something is used

He was of temporary use. The instrument has different uses.

the power, right, or privilege of employing or using something

to lose the use of the right eye; to be denied the use of a library card.

service or advantage in or for being employed or used; utility or usefulness

of no practical use.

help; profit; resulting good

What's the use of pursuing the matter?

occasion or need, as for something to be employed or used

Would you have any use for another calendar?

continued, habitual, or customary employment or practice; custom

to follow the prevailing use of such occasions.

Law .

the enjoyment of property, as by the employment, occupation, or exercise of it.

the benefit or profit of lands and tenements in the possession of another who simply holds them for the beneficiary.

the equitable ownership of land to which the legal title is in another's name.

Liturgy . the distinctive form of ritual or of any liturgical observance used in a particular church, diocese, community, etc.

usual or customary experience. ?

Verb phrase

use up,

to consume entirely.

to exhaust of vigor or usefulness; finish

By the end of the war he felt used up and sick of life.

Idioms

have no use for

to have no occasion or need for

She appears to have no use for the city.

to refuse to tolerate; discount

He had no use for his brother.

to have a distaste for; dislike

He has no use for dictators.

make use of

to use for one's own purposes; employ

Charitable organizations will make use of your old furniture and clothing.

of no use

of no advantage or help

It's of no use to look for that missing earring. It's no use asking her to go. Also, no use.

put to use

to apply; employ to advantage

What a shame that no one has put that old deserted mansion to use!

Antonyms

verb

abstain , leave alone

noun

desuetude , disuse , inutility. , obsolescence

Synonyms

noun

account , adoption , advantage , appliance , applicability , appropriateness , avail , benefit , call , capitalization , cause , convenience , custom , end , exercise , exercising , exertion , fitness , good , habit , handling , help , helpfulness , mileage , mobilization , necessity , need , object , occasion , operation , point , practice , profit , purpose , reason , relevance , service , serviceability , treatment , usability , usage , usefulness , utility , value , way , wear and tear * , wont , worthnotes:the difference between use and usage consists primarily in the fact that the former has a specific , the latter a general sense , application , employment , implementation , play , utilization , consuetude , habitude , manner , praxis , usance , deployment , disposition , efficacy , exercitation , exploitation , feasibility , functionality , mores , prescription , tradition

verb

accept , adopt , apply , avail oneself of , bestow , bring into play * , bring to bear * , capitalize , control , do with , draw on , employ , exercise , exert , exhaust , expend , exploit , find a use , govern , handle , make do with , make the most of , make use , manage , manipulate , operate , play on , ply , practice , press into service , put forth * , put into action , put to use , put to work , regulate , relate , run , run through , set in motion , spend , take advantage of * , turn to account , utilize , waste , wield , worknotes:the difference between use and usage consists primarily in the fact that the former has a specific , the latter a general sense , actuate , implement , work , impose , presume , accustom , advantage , application , avail , behave toward , benefit , capitalize on , consume , consumption , custom , demand , deplete , devour , duty , employment , familiarize , function , gain , good , guide , habit , habituate , handling , hire , impoverish , incur , inure , mileage , need , occupy , parlay , privilege , squander , treat , treatment , try , utility , value , wont , worth

phrasal verb

consume , drain , draw down , eat up , expend , finish , play out , run through , spend , exhaust , impoverish , sap