reusable
Britishadjective
Explanation
Something is reusable if it can be used more than once. Since you can wash a cloth napkin after you use it, it is reusable. Toilet paper? Not reusable. Many cities now encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags to stores, instead of having groceries and other goods put in plastic bags that are usually thrown away after a single use. Reusable is a word you'll often see alongside words like recyclable, renewable, or sustainable, in an environmentally conscious context. It comes from the "again" prefix re- and usable.
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.
In December 2015, SpaceX landed a reusable Falcon 9 rocket from an orbital flight for the first time, followed by Blue Origin's New Glenn in November 2025.
From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026
Recently, however, I’ve been watching a building less than 2 miles away, where a startup, Stoke Space, is developing reusable rockets to launch satellites into orbit.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026
Another reader stores leftovers and produce in Mason jars or reusable silicone bags instead of disposable zip-top bags.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026
It’s a philosophy that’s helped Musk do what many thought was impractical, such as developing reusable rockets.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026
She’s sitting across from me, rummaging through her reusable green lunch bag.
From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan
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.
