adjective
-
not being or never having been made use of
-
not accustomed or used (to something)
Etymology
Origin of unused
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at un- 1, used
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.
To top it off, LendingTree has found that most people are sitting on unused points.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Under pressure from Edison and the other companies, the rule was weakened to allow utilities to keep the unused lines in place until executives decided they were “permanently abandoned.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Prior Olympics hosts have also suffered consequences of building huge sports infrastructure that goes unused after the games conclude, creating more of a cost than a benefit to the region.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026
Parents can use 529 accounts for tax-advantaged education savings, with unused funds transferable to a Roth IRA after 15 years.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
‘Say a captain of the Rangers, who are unused to cities and houses of stone.’
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
