usual

American  

[yoo-zhoo-uhl, yoozh-wuhl] / ˈyu ʒu əl, ˈyuʒ wəl /

adjective

1. habitual or customary.

   her usual skill.

   Synonyms:

   accustomed

2. commonly met with or observed in experience; ordinary.

   the usual January weather.

   Synonyms:

   regular, familiar, prevalent, prevailing, general

3. commonplace; everyday.

   He says the usual things.

   Synonyms:

   predictable

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noun

1. something that is usual.

   He could expect only the usual.

idioms

1. as usual, in the customary or usual manner.

   As usual, he forgot my birthday.

usual British  

/ ˈjuːʒʊəl /

adjective

1. of the most normal, frequent, or regular type; customary

   that's the usual sort of application to send

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noun

1. ordinary or commonplace events (esp in the phrase out of the usual )

2. informal the habitual or usual drink, meal, etc

usual More Idioms  

1. see as usual; business as usual.

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Related Words

Usual, customary, habitual refer to a settled and constant practice. Usual indicates something that is to be expected by reason of previous experience, which shows it to occur more often than not: There were the usual crowds at the celebration. Something that is customary is in accordance with prevailing usage or individual practice: It is customary to finish up with a bonfire. That which is habitual has become settled or constant as the result of habit on the part of the individual: The merchants wore habitual smiles throughout the season.

Other Word Forms

• usually adverb
• usualness noun

Etymology

Origin of usual

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin ūsuālis, equivalent to Latin ūsu-, stem of ūsus “use” ( use (noun)) + -ālis -al ¹; compare Old French usuel

Example Sentences

Haskins is still comfortable but has “felt the weight of the growing prices impacting my decision-making more than usual,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Met Office said on Thursday that rain had fallen every day of 2026 in south-west England and South Wales, with both areas seeing 50% more rainfall than usual.

From BBC

Doctors say they’re fielding even more calls than usual to book appointments for face-lifts and breast augmentations during the winter months, as patients anticipate spring break, summer vacation, wedding season and the gala circuit.

From The Wall Street Journal

And it's spread far beyond the chorus of usual critics, making the PM's vow to be in the chair this time next year seem like a lifetime ago.

From BBC

As usual, it’s the bad guys who attract the most attention rather than the conditions that enabled their behavior or the consequences for those who suffered from it.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• constant
• conventional
• current
• customary
• everyday
• expected
• familiar
• frequent
• natural
• normal
• prevailing
• regular
• routine