use
[verb]
Synonyms:
- employ, apply, exercise, exert, operate, practise, utilize, work
- take advantage of, exploit, manipulate
- consume, exhaust, expend, run through, spend
[noun]
Synonyms:
- usage, application, employment, exercise, handling, operation, practice, service
- good, advantage, avail, benefit, help, point, profit, service, usefulness, value
- purpose, end, object, reason

---

Antonyms: nonuse
Contrasted words: desuetude, disuse, inadequacy, inapplicability, inappropriateness, insufficiency, unfitness, unserviceability, uselessness, worthlessness, dissipate, exhaust, use up, waste
Related Idioms: avail oneself of, bring into play, fall back (on or upon), make use of, press into service, put into action, put to use, make the most of
Related Words: adaptability, availability, benefit, efficacy, profit, value, worth, ceremony, formality, manipulate, operate, ply, wield, control, govern, manage, regulate

---

English Thesaurus: use, make use of something, employ, utilize, exploit, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. use¹ S1 W1 /juːz/ verb
[Word Family: noun: usage, use, disuse, misuse, reuse, usefulness ≠ uselessness, user; adjective: reusable, used ≠ unused, disused, useful ≠ useless, usable ≠ unusable; verb: use, misuse, reuse; adverb: usefully ≠ uselessly]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: user, from Latin usus, past participle of uti 'to use']

1. USE SOMETHING [transitive] if you use a particular tool, method, service, ability etc, you do something with that tool, by means of that method etc, for a particular purpose:
Can I use your phone?
I’ll show you which room you can use.
I always use the same shampoo.
Use your imagination when planning meals.
She booked the flight using a false name.
easy/difficult/simple etc to use
Drop-down menus make the program very easy to use.
use something for (doing) something
They were using animals for scientific experiments.
Bob uses the van for picking up groceries.
use something as something
My parents use the house as a holiday home.
use something to do something
Most people now use their cars to go shopping.
use force (=use violent methods)

2. AMOUNT OF SOMETHING [transitive] to take an amount of something from a supply of food, gas, money etc:
We use about £40 worth of electricity a month.
Standard washing machines use about 40 gallons of water.

3. TREAT SOMEBODY UNFAIRLY [transitive] to make someone do something for you in order to get something you want:
Can’t you see that Howard is just using you?
Gerald had been using her for his own ends.

4. AN ADVANTAGE [transitive] to take advantage of a situation
use something to do something
She used her position as manager to get jobs for her friends.

5. could use something spoken if you say you could use something, you mean you would really like to have it:
I could use a drink.

6. WORD [transitive] to say or write a particular word or phrase:
We use the word ‘hardware’ to describe the actual machine.
Don’t use bad language.

7. DRUGS [intransitive and transitive] to regularly take illegal drugs ⇒ used to

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. use² S1 W1 /juːs/ noun
[Word Family: noun: usage, use, disuse, misuse, reuse, usefulness ≠ uselessness, user; adjective: reusable, used ≠ unused, disused, useful ≠ useless, usable ≠ unusable; verb: use, misuse, reuse; adverb: usefully ≠ uselessly]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: us, from Latin usus; ⇒ use¹]

1. [singular, uncountable] the action or fact of using something:
an exit for use in emergencies
use of
the increasing use of computers in education

2. [countable] a purpose for which something can be used:
Robots have many different uses in modern industry.
have/find a use for something
The cupboard is full of things I can never find a use for.

3. make use of something to use something that is available in order to achieve something or get an advantage for yourself:
We will make use of her vast experience.
There is an answering machine for you to make use of.
Try to make good use of your time.

4. put something to (good) use to use something such as knowledge or skills for a particular purpose:
a job where her management skills can be put to good use

5. the use of something the ability or right to use something:
Joe’s given me the use of his office till he gets back.
He lost the use of both legs as a result of the accident.

6. be (of) no use (to somebody) to be completely useless:
You needed blankets to keep warm because the heating was no use.
Take this – it’s of no use to me any more.

7. it’s no use doing something spoken used to tell someone not to do something because it will have no effect:
It’s no use complaining.

8. it’s no use! spoken used to say that you are going to stop doing something because you do not think it will be successful:
Oh, it’s no use! I can’t fix it.

9. what’s the use (of something) spoken used to say that something seems to be a waste of time:
What’s the use of decorating the house if we are going to sell it?

10. be in use a machine, place etc that is in use is being used:
Electric vehicles built in 1920 were still in use in the 1950s.

11. for the use of somebody provided for a particular person or group of people to use:
a bar for the use of the guests

12. be of use (to somebody/something) to be useful:
He was charged with having information likely to be of use to terrorists.

13. come into use (also bring something into use) to start being used, or to start using something:
Computers first came into use in the early 1950s.

14. go/be out of use a machine, place etc that goes out of use or is out of use is not being used:
Some 4,000 railway stations have gone out of use since the 1960s.

15. have no use for somebody/something to have no respect for someone or something:
She has no use for people who are always complaining.

16. something/somebody has their uses spoken used, often humorously, to say that something or someone can sometimes be useful, even though it may not seem that way:
Being stubborn can have its uses.

17. [countable] one of the meanings of a word, or the way that a particular word is used

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

use
noun
I. using/being used
ADJ. considerable, extensive, great, heavy, liberal | full, maximum He made full use of the opportunity to travel.
excessive a style of writing with an excessive use of metaphor
increased, increasing | constant, continued, daily, everyday, frequent, regular, repeated, routine the daily use of a deodorant
wide, widespread a campaign to encourage wider use of public transport
common, current, general, normal, ordinary This software is no longer in common use.
limited | occasional | appropriate, careful, clever, correct, effective, efficient, good, judicious, legitimate, optimum, proper, safe, selective Holding a lavish party was not the best use of scarce funds. an efficient use of resources an article with a judicious use of examples The layout of the furniture makes optimum use of the space available.
indiscriminate, poor | illegal, unauthorized | personal, private | external, internal This antiseptic is for external use only.
home fire extinguishers for home use
clinical, commercial, industrial | official | exclusive for the exclusive use of club members
free Guests have free use of the hotel swimming pool.
immediate Only half the land was fit for immediate use.
drug, heroin, etc. Drug use in this age group is on the increase.
land | language | energy | library
VERB + USE make We made use of the car while you were away.
bring sth (back) into, come into a technology which came into use at the end of the last century
go out of The expression went out of use some time ago.
PREP. for ~ This phone number is only for use in an emergency.
in ~ The phone is in constant use.
PHRASES ease of use This model has been designed for greater ease of use.
for use as The record is intended for use as background music.
ready for use This room is now ready for use.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

use
II. purpose for which sth is used
ADJ. different | new
VERB + USE have This herb has a variety of uses.
find, put sth to Can you find a use for this old table? Don't throw that box away?I'm sure I could put it to some use.
PHRASES a variety of uses

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

use
III. ability/permission to use sth
ADJ. full the full use of your mental faculties
VERB + USE have Since his stroke he hasn't had the use of his left hand.
give sb, offer (sb) We gave them the use of our house while we were on holiday.
deny sb They denied us use of the college library.
lose | recover, regain After a while she regained the use of her fingers.
PREP. ~ of She lost the use of her legs in a car accident.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

use
IV. how useful sth is
ADJ. practical
VERB + USE be of Could this old coat be of use to you?
have I have no use for my golf clubs any more.
PREP. of … ~ It's of no practical use to me.
~ to Is it any use to you?
PHRASES be no use It's no use running?the train has already gone.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

use
verb
ADV. carefully, efficiently | sparingly This paint is very expensive, so please use it sparingly.
indiscriminately | frequently, generally, habitually, normally, regularly, usually Do you habitually use display screen equipment as a significant part of your job?
occasionally, rarely | up The oil had all been used up.
VERB + USE be easy to, be simple to These garden shears are lightweight and easy to use.
be difficult to, be hard to | be ready to | be likely to, tend to the factors that make people likely to use heroin Manufacturers tend to use disks made in the US.
decide to | intend to, plan to | attempt to, try to | allow sb to, be entitled to, let sb, permit sb to Candidates are not allowed to use dictionaries in the exam.
forbid sb to | teach sb to
PREP. as The tennis court is sometimes used as a car park.
for chemicals that are used for cleaning
PHRASES permission to use sth

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

use
I.
noun
1.
BAD: On a beautiful day like today it's no use staying at home.
GOOD: On a beautiful day like today there's no point in staying at home.
BAD: It's no use having lessons if you don't want to learn.
GOOD: There's no point in having lessons if you don't want to learn.

Usage Note:
Use it's no use/good doing sth when you mean that a particular action will not help to deal with a need or difficulty: 'For spellings, it's no use looking in a grammar book. What you need is a dictionary.'
When you mean that something has no useful purpose, use there's no point in doing sth : 'There's no point in having a dictionary if you never use it.'

---

2.
BAD: There's no use in waiting any longer.
GOOD: There's no point in waiting any longer.

Usage Note:
it's no use ... (NOT there ): 'It's no use complaining.'
there's no point ... (NOT it ) 'There's no point in getting upset.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

use
II.
verb
1.
BAD: The meals we use to eat are very simple.
GOOD: The meals we (usually) eat are very simple.
BAD: When I'm not busy, I use to play the guitar.
GOOD: When I'm not busy, I (usually) play the guitar.

Usage Note:
When you are talking about a present habit, use the present simple tense (NOT use to do ): 'I (usually) have two cups of coffee at breakfast.'

---

2.
BAD: In my previous job I use to travel a lot.
GOOD: In my previous job I used to travel a lot.

Usage Note:
When you are talking about a past habit, use used to do sth (with silent d ): 'Before I had the accident I used to cycle to work.'

---

3.
BAD: It took me a long time to get use to the local accent.
GOOD: It took me a long time to get used to the local accent.

Usage Note:
be/get used to (doing) sth (with silent d ) = be in or get into the habit of doing/hearing/seeing etc something, so that it no longer seems strange or difficult: 'Being a city girl, she wasn't used to sitting on a horse.' 'I didn't like the taste of the water at first, but I'm getting used to it.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

use:
Do you mind if I use your phone?
They rebuilt the church using local stone.
We use a range of different methods.
make use of something to use something that is available to you:
Staff can make use of a wide range of facilities.
She made full use of her contacts within the organization.
employ formal to use a particular method or skill in order to achieve something:
The surgeons employed a new technique.
They employed every means at their disposal (=every available method).
utilize formal to use something that is available to you, for a practical purpose:
The company has developed a new way to utilize solar energy.
a better way of utilizing the space
exploit to use something as fully and effectively as possible, or to use something that will give you an advantage over your opponent:
The country’s natural resources have not yet been fully exploited.
He was quick to exploit any weakness in his opponent’s argument.
apply to use something such as a method, idea, or system in a particular situation:
New technology is being applied to almost every industrial process.
I wanted to apply the things that I had learned on the course.
draw on something to use information, knowledge, or experience that you have learned in the past:
He was able to draw on his own experience as a diplomat when he was writing the book.
Journalists draw on information from many different sources.
resort to something to use violence, force, threats etc as a way of achieving something:
Extremists on both sides resort to violence.
We are prepared to resort to force if necessary.
exercise formal to use your rights, authority, influence etc:
Only 40% of the poulation exercised their right to vote.
Congress must decide whether to exercise its veto.
wield /wiːld/ formal to use great power or influence:
The central banks wield enormous power.
widespread/extensive use (=when something is used in many places or situations, or among many people)
The widespread use of computers changed business completely.
efficient use
Doing the work in stages makes the most efficient use of resources.
effective use
We need to consider whether there could be a more effective use of our time.
heavy/frequent use (=when something is used a lot)
The heavy use of pesticides in the area led to severe health problems.
regular use
These drugs are not recommended for regular use.
greater use
We want to encourage employees to make greater use of the sports facilities.
land use
Our department is responsible for establishing the guidelines for land use in the county.
drug/alcohol use
Drug use among teenage boys is on the increase.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

use
̘. ̈n.ju:s
See: no use , put to use

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲