use

 

verb

Pronunciation: /juːz/
[with object]
  • 1take, hold, or deploy (something) as a means of accomplishing or achieving something; employ: she used her key to open the front door the poem uses simple language
  • [with object and adverbial] treat (someone) in a particular way: use your troops well and they will not let you down
  • exploit (a person or situation) for one’s own advantage: I couldn’t help feeling that she was using me
  • apply (a name or title) to oneself: she still used her maiden name professionally
  • 2take or consume (an amount) from a limited supply: we have used all the available funds
  • take (an illegal drug): they were using heroin daily [no object]: had she been using again?
  • 3 /juːst/ [in past, with infinitive] (used to) describing an action or situation that was done repeatedly or existed for a period in the past: this road used to be a dirt track I used to give him lifts home
  • 4 /juːst/ (be/get used to) be or become familiar with (someone or something) through experience: she was used to getting what she wanted he’s weird, but you just have to get used to him
  • 5 (one could use) informal one would like or benefit from: I could use another cup of coffee

noun

Pronunciation: /juːs/
[mass noun]
  • 1the action of using something or the state of being used for a purpose: hyper-modern trains are now in use theatre owners were charging too much for the use of their venues
  • the ability or power to exercise or manipulate one’s mind or body: the horse lost the use of his hind legs
  • [count noun] a purpose for or way in which something can be used: the herb has various culinary uses
  • 2the value or advantage of something: it was no use trying to persuade her what’s the use of crying?
  • Law, historical the benefit or profit of lands, especially lands that are in the possession of another who holds them solely for the beneficiary.
  • 3the habitual consumption of a drug: burgling and dealing financed their heroin use
  • 4the characteristic ritual and liturgy of a Christian Church or diocese.

Phrases

have its (or one's) uses

informal be useful in certain respects: I know you don’t like him, but he has his uses an army training has its uses

have no use for

informal dislike or be impatient with: look at the reception he gave her—Andrew has no use for Mrs Jones

make use of

use for a purpose: they made use of a variety of methods in their research
benefit from: they were educated enough to make use of further training

use and wont

formal established custom: the painter followed the religious use and wont of his time

use someone's name

cite someone as an authority or reference: you could use my name—if they know you work for me, they might open up

Phrasal Verbs

use something up

consume or expend the whole of something: the money was soon used up
(be used up) informal (of a person) be exhausted or emotionally drained: she was tired and used up

Origin:

Middle English: the noun from Old French us, from Latin usus, from uti 'to use'; the verb from Old French user, based on Latin uti

1 The construction used to is standard, but difficulties arise with the formation of negatives and questions. Traditionally, used to behaves as a modal verb, so that questions and negatives are formed without the auxiliary verb do, as in it used not to be like that and used she to come here? In modern English this question form is now regarded as very formal or old-fashioned and the use with do is broadly accepted as standard, as in did she use to come here? Negative constructions with do, on the other hand (as in it didn’t use to be like that), though common, are informal and are not generally accepted.2 There is sometimes confusion over whether to use the form used to or use to, which has arisen largely because the pronunciation is the same in both cases. Except in negatives and questions, the correct form is used to: we used to go to the cinema all the time, not we use to go to the cinema all the time. However, in negatives and questions using the auxiliary verb do, the correct form is use to, because the form of the verb required is the infinitive: I didn’t use to like mushrooms, not I didn’t used to like mushrooms.