usual

[yoo-zhoo-uhl, yoozh-wuhl]

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

noun

1. something that is usual.

   He could expect only the usual.

usual

/ ˈjuːʒʊəl /

adjective

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

   that's the usual sort of application to send

noun

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

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

Other Word Forms

• usually adverb
• usualness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of usual¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of usual¹

C14: from Late Latin ūsuālis ordinary, from Latin ūsus _use

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   As usual, he forgot my birthday.

see as usual; business as usual.

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Victory would be seen as a rejection of politics as usual by New Yorkers as they struggle with the cost of living - Mamdani's number one issue.

Read more on BBC

Happily, it does, in all the usual ways.

Read more on Salon

Absent the usual signposts, Wall Street has had to turn to other indicators such as credit-card spending, corporate earning results and state jobless claims to try to piece together what is going on.

Read more on MarketWatch

Despite the usual crowds of thousands, the feeling of self-restraint was more evident this year, the 30-year-old told AFP.

Read more on Barron's

In both periods of excess investors thought companies could invest successfully, and rushed to buy the heaviest spenders before, as usual, being disappointed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• constant 
• conventional 
• current 
• customary 
• everyday 
• expected www.thesaurus.com
• familiar 
• frequent 
• natural 
• normal 
• prevailing 
• regular 
• routine