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

Those usual characteristics of the Brisbane pitch, namely pace and bounce, should suit England's battery of pace bowlers, as they did in the first innings in Perth before things took a ghastly turn.

From BBC

After graduation he decided to buck the usual trend and stay in town.

From Los Angeles Times

And Stella was his usual calm, reasoned self.

From BBC

With neither on the pitch, Arsenal's usually dangerous long throws, free-kicks and corners lacked their usual potency.

From BBC

How the Chargers can win: As usual, protect Herbert behind a cobbled-together and constantly-changing offensive line and get some traction with the ground game.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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