use

noun

UK /juːs/

Word Forms

singular	use
plural	uses

1
singular/uncountable the act of using something
use of:
the use of resources/technology/computers
Farmers are reducing the use of pesticides on food crops.
Their unnecessary use of force has endangered peace efforts.
2
countable/uncountable a way of using something
These rollers have a variety of manufacturing uses.
use of:
This is not the best use of your talents.
use for:
I kept hoping to find a use for it.
Synonyms and related words
Use of something
user
use
application
3
uncountable the right, an opportunity, or permission to use something
have the use of something:
We can have the use of the hall every Thursday.
for the use of someone (=only for them to use):
The pool was built for the exclusive use of residents.
Synonyms and related words
General words for permission
permission
consent
approval
4
uncountable the ability to use a part of your body or mind
lose the use of something:
He lost the use of his legs in a car crash.
Synonyms and related words
Use of something
user
use
application
5
countable a meaning of a word, or a way of speaking or writing a word
This use is common among young people.
Synonyms and related words
General words for meaning
meaning
significance
usage

phrases

be no use

be no use at (doing) something

be of no use

be of use

come into use

go out of use

have its/your uses

have no use for

in/out of use

it’s no use

make use of

put something to good use

there’s no use (in) doing something

what’s the use?

use

noun

US /jus/

Word Forms

singular	use
plural	uses

1
singular/uncountable the act of using something
use of:
the use of resources/technology/computers
Farmers are reducing the use of pesticides on food crops.
Their unnecessary use of force has endangered peace efforts.
2
countable/uncountable a way of using something
These rollers have a variety of manufacturing uses.
use of:
This is not the best use of your talents.
use for:
I kept hoping to find a use for it.
Synonyms and related words
Use of something
application
consumption
exploitation
3
uncountable the right, an opportunity, or permission to use something
have the use of something:
We can have the use of the hall every Thursday.
for the use of someone (=only for them to use):
The pool was built for the exclusive use of residents.
Synonyms and related words
General words for permission
permission
consent
approval
4
uncountable the ability to use a part of your body or mind
lose the use of something:
He lost the use of his legs in a car accident.
Synonyms and related words
Use of something
application
consumption
exploitation
5
countable a meaning of a word, or a way of speaking or writing a word
This use is now fairly common among young people.
Synonyms and related words
General words for meaning
meaning
significance
usage

phrases

be no use

be of no use

be of use

come into use

go out of use

have its/your uses

have no use for

in/out of use

it’s no use

make use of

put something to good use

there’s no use (in) doing something

what’s the use?

use

verb

UK /juːz/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	use
he/she/it	uses
present participle	using
past tense	used
past participle	used

1
transitive to do something using a machine, tool, skill, method etc in order to do a job or to achieve a result
Using a computer is so much quicker.
What type of soap do you use?
Using all his charm, he managed to persuade them.
use something for something:
Psychological tests are used for selection purposes.
use something for doing something:
Methane gas is used for heating and generating power.
use something as something:
I had to use a ski as a tent pole.
use something as an excuse/reason:
They used the recession as an excuse to get rid of workers.
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of equipment work
activate
actuate
coax
2
transitive to get a benefit for yourself from something that is available to you
Only about 30 people regularly use the bus service.
Synonyms and related words
To use something, or to be used
go towards
bring in
fall back on
3
transitive to take an amount from a supply of something in order to do a job or to achieve a result
You’ve used all the hot water again.
Most of that paint was used on the kitchen.
Synonyms and related words
To use something, or to be used
go towards
bring in
fall back on
4
transitive to treat someone in an unfair way, for example by pretending to care about them so that they do what you want
You know he’s just using you.
use someone for your own ends (=to get what you want):
Liz has always used people for her own ends.
Synonyms and related words
To treat someone unfairly
prey on
discriminate
oppress
5
transitive to say or write particular words
Don’t use language like that in front of your little brother.
use something to do something:
McClaren used the same words to describe his feelings.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to say something
say
talk
speak
6
transitive if you use a particular name, you call yourself by a different name from your usual one
Synonyms and related words
To name, or to have a particular name
name
call
christen
7
intransitive/transitive to take illegal drugs regularly
In jail, he continued to deal and use drugs.
She’s using again.
Synonyms and related words
To buy or use illegal drugs
abuse
be jacked up
come down

phrases

could use something

use your head

phrasal verbs

use up

use

verb

US /juz/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	use
he/she/it	uses
present participle	using
past tense	used
past participle	used

1
transitive to do something using a machine, tool, skill, method, etc. in order to do a job or to achieve a result
Using a computer is so much quicker.
What type of soap do you use?
Using all his charm, he managed to persuade them.
use something for something:
Psychological tests are used for selection purposes.
use something for doing something:
Methane gas is used for heating and generating power.
use something as something:
I had to use a ski as a tent pole.
use something as an excuse/reason:
They used the recession as an excuse to get rid of workers.
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of equipment work
activate
actuate
coax
2
transitive to get a benefit for yourself from something that is available to you
Only about 30 people regularly use the bus service.
Synonyms and related words
To use something, or to be used
repurpose
use
bring in
3
transitive to take an amount from a supply of something in order to do a job or to achieve a result
You’ve used all the hot water again.
Most of that paint was used on the kitchen.
Synonyms and related words
To use something, or to be used
repurpose
use
bring in
4
transitive to treat someone in an unfair way, for example by pretending to care about them so that they do what you want
You know he’s just using you.
use someone for your own ends (=to get what you want):
Liz has always used people for her own ends.
Synonyms and related words
To treat someone unfairly
prey on
discriminate
oppress
5
intransitive/transitive to take illegal drugs regularly
In jail, he continued to deal and use drugs.
Synonyms and related words
To buy or use illegal drugs
abuse
be jacked up
come down
6
transitive to say or write particular words
Don’t use language like that in front of your little brother.
use something to do something:
McClaren used the same words to describe his feelings.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to say something
say
talk
speak
7
transitive if you use a particular name, you call yourself by a different name from your usual one
Synonyms and related words
To name, or to have a particular name
name
call
christen

phrases

could use something

use your head

phrasal verbs

use up

use ​‌‌‌

use ​‌‌‌

use ​‌‌‌

use ​‌‌‌

use

use

use

use