usedverb
uk/juːst/us/juːst/used to
More examples
- A great number of women used to die in childbirth.
- In those days people used to write a lot more letters.
- When I lived in Spain, I used to eat out all the time.
- He's rather shy, although he's not as bad as he used to be.
- The apple pie was as good as the one my grandmother used to make.
B1 shows that a particular thing always happened or was true in the past, especially if it no longer happens or is no longer true:
She used to live in Glasgow.
She used to love dancing, but she doesn't do it any more.
You don't come and see me like you used to.
When we were younger, we used not to be allowed to drink coffee.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
In the past
- ago
- any more idiom
- anymore
- back in the day idiom
- before
- clock
- dot
- late
- memory
- more
- no longer idiom
- of late idiom
- of old idiom
- old
- past
- the mists of time idiom
- the status quo ante
- the week/month/year before last idiom
- the year dot idiom
- use
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usedadjective
uk/juːst//juːzd/us/juːst//juːzd/used adjective (FAMILIAR)
be used to sth/sb usuk/juːst/
More examples
- She's used to dealing with difficult customers.
- After a while you get used to all the noise.
- I'm so used to living alone now, I don't think I would like sharing with anyone again.
- I'm not used to driving an automatic car - I keep trying to change gear!
- Dad was used to being in charge and it was difficult for him to take orders from anyone.
B1 to be familiar with something or someone:
We're used to tourists here - we get thousands every year.
[ + -ing verb ] She was not used to speaking Cantonese.
get used to sth/sb B1
to become familiar with something or someone:
Eventually you'll get used to the smells of the laboratory.
[ + -ing verb ] I just can't get used to getting up early.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Adapting and attuning to something
- accustom yourself to sth
- accustomed
- adapt
- adaptable
- as (if) to the manner born idiom
- bearing
- get into the swing of it/things idiom
- get into your stride idiom
- habituated
- hang
- hardened
- plug
- plug into sth
- second nature
- settle
- settle down
- settle in
- settle sb in
- settled
- swing
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used adjective (NOT NEW)
uk/juːzd/usthat has already been put to the purpose it was intended for; not new:
a used airline ticket
The blackmailers demanded to be paid in used £20 notes.
I could only afford a used car (= one that has already been owned by others).
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Old or old-fashioned
- a thing of the past idiom
- age-old
- ageing
- aging
- ancient
- creaky
- feel your age idiom
- fossilized
- frumpy
- fusty
- have had its/your day idiom
- hoary
- neanderthal
- oldish
- out of date
- outdated
- outmoded
- outworn
- vintage
- went out with the ark idiom
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