U

or u

[ yoo ]

/ yu /

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noun, plural U's or Us, u's or us.

the 21st letter of the English alphabet, a vowel.

any spoken sound represented by the letter U or u, as in music, rule, curious, put, or jug.

something having the shape of a U.

a written or printed representation of the letter U or u.

a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter U or u.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Other definitions for U (2 of 9)

U²

[ yoo ]

/ yu /

pronoun Informal.

you: Shoes Fixed While U Wait.

Origin of U

First recorded in 1840–45

Other definitions for U (3 of 9)

U³

[ yoo ]

/ yu /

adjective Informal.

characteristic of or appropriate to the upper class, especially of Great Britain.

Origin of U

First recorded in 1950–55; u(pper class)

Other definitions for U (4 of 9)

U⁴

[ oo ]

/ u /

noun

a Burmese title of respect applicable to a man: used before the proper name.

Origin of U

⁴

First recorded in 1930–35; from Burmese ʔú, roughly “Mister, Uncle,” used for senior men and monks

Other definitions for U (5 of 9)

U⁵

Symbol.

(on a packaged product) certified as kosher by the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.

the 21st in order or in a series.

Chemistry. uranium.

Biochemistry. uracil.

Thermodynamics. internal energy.

British. a designation for motion pictures determined as being acceptable for viewing by all age groups.Compare A³ (def. 10), AA² (def. 5), X³ (def. 9).

Other definitions for U (6 of 9)

u.¹

abbreviation

and.

Origin of u.

From the German word und

Other definitions for U (7 of 9)

u.²

abbreviation

uniform.

unit.

unsatisfactory.

upper.

Other definitions for U (8 of 9)

U.¹

abbreviation

and.

Origin of U.

From the German word und

Other definitions for U (9 of 9)

U.²

abbreviation

uncle.

uniform.

union.

unit.

united.

university.

unsatisfactory.

upper.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use U in a sentence

Director Yoo Dong-hun and screenwriter Lee Jung-u were arrested for firebombing theaters.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Following this supposed U-turn on his political beliefs, Darakhshan went back to Iran in October 2008.
Iran’s Blogfather Walks Free After Six Years in Jail|IranWire|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But for adolescent inmates, says U. S. Attorney Preet Bharara, “Rikers Island is broken.”
Here’s a Reform Even the Koch Brothers and George Soros Can Agree On|Tina Brown|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The video also included a clip of the British prime minister describing the U. S. as allies.
ISIS Murder of British Hostage Likely to Draw UK Deeper Into New War|Nico Hines|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She was naked in Money Train and U-Turn, the Oliver Stone movie.
The Movie Nudity Maestro: Jim McBride on 15 Years of Mr. Skin and That Scarlett Johansson Scene|Marlow Stern|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
U was an Usurer, a miserable elf; V was a Vintner, who drank all himself.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
The channels between t and u, and between v and w, appeared to be clear and deep.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
(ii) The provision to the maximum extent possible of non-restricted or "U" programmes for children's sessions.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents|Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.
"I didn't suppose there were such bea-u-tiful dresses in the world," sighed Elsie, looking about her.
The Sunbridge Girls at Six Star Ranch|Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter
Whler's and Bauschinger's experiments give values of t, u, and s, for some materials.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for U (1 of 4)

U

/ (juː) /

noun plural u's, U's or Us

the 21st letter and fifth vowel of the modern English alphabet

any of several speech sounds represented by this letter, in English as in mute, cut, hurt, sure, pull, or minus

something shaped like a U
(in combination)a U-bolt; a U-turn

British Dictionary definitions for U (2 of 4)

U¹

symbol for

united

unionist

university

(in Britain)

universal (used to describe a category of film certified as suitable for viewing by anyone)
(as modifier)a U film

chem uranium

biochem uracil

abbreviation for

text messaging you

adjective

British old-fashioned, informal (esp of language habits) characteristic of or appropriate to the upper classCompare non-U

British Dictionary definitions for U (3 of 4)

U²

/ (uː) /

noun

a Burmese title of respect for men, equivalent to Mr

British Dictionary definitions for U (4 of 4)

abbreviation for

maths union

unit

united

university

upper

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for U

Abbreviation of uracil

The symbol for uranium.