reuse
Americanverb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Explanation
To reuse something is to make use of it more than once, or for a subsequent time. Asking for a plastic bag at the grocery store might seem wasteful, but you can reuse that bag many times. Instead of throwing something away after using it once, ask yourself if there's any way you can reuse it. You can reuse a paper towel roll by putting it in your hamster's cage so he can crawl through and chew on it. You can reuse containers like glass jars and plastic tubs by storing leftovers in them. You can even reuse kitchen scraps by composting them and using the compost in your garden.
Vocabulary lists containing reuse
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Advancing Water Reuse Act seeks to lessen the local impacts of water-guzzling operations such as data centers, which have sparked pushback across the country amid a mass build-out to power the artificial intelligence boom.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Only a few years after Vibiana, the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance of 1999 was a major milestone for the city that has since resulted in 14,000 units of housing created in historic downtown buildings.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2023
Participating businesses can decide to charge customers a returnable deposit to "borrow" the dishes, which are later handed off to Bold Reuse for cleaning offsite.
From Salon • Jun. 25, 2023
Reuse honors the past by giving what’s troubled or outmoded a fresh face.
From New York Times • Feb. 15, 2023
DIYers may also want to explore upcycled building materials and other items at outlets like Second Use and Ballard Reuse.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 25, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
