Skip to the word

Added 2 October 2026

use

/juːs/ noun

In Latin: ūsus, usurpatio Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about use at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The act of using.
The use of torture has been condemned by the United Nations.
The act of consuming alcohol or narcotics.
Usefulness, utility, benefit; purpose, point.
What's the use of a law that nobody follows?

verb

To utilize or employ. To employ; to apply; to utilize.
Use this knife to slice the bread.
To employ; to apply; to utilize.
Use this knife to slice the bread.
To expend; to consume by employing.
I used the money they allotted me.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word