usage

[ yoo-sij, -zij ]

See synonyms for usage on Thesaurus.com

noun

a customary way of doing something; a custom or practice: the usages of the last 50 years.
the customary manner in which a language or a form of a language is spoken or written: English usage; a grammar based on usage rather than on arbitrary notions of correctness.

a particular instance of this: a usage borrowed from French.
any manner of doing or handling something; treatment: rough usage.
habitual or customary use; long-continued practice: immemorial usage.
an act of using or employing; use.

Origin of usage

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Medieval Latin ūsāticum, equivalent to Latin ūs(us) (see use) + -āticum -age

confusables note For usage

The nouns usage and use are related in origin and meaning and to some extent overlap in their use. Usage usually refers to habitual or customary practices or procedures: Some usages of the Anglican Church are similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also commonly used in reference to language practices: English usage is divided in the pronunciation of aunt. Use refers to the act of using or employing (something): She put her extra money to good use. Perhaps in the belief that it is the more impressive term, usage is sometimes used where use would be more natural: Has your usage of a personal computer made the work any easier?

Other words for usage

1	tradition, habit, convention

See synonyms for usage on Thesaurus.com

Other words from usage

non·us·age, noun

Words that may be confused with usage

use, usage (see usage note at the current entry)

Words Nearby usage

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

How to use usage in a sentence

This is not the time to change the rules when it comes to Internet data usage and increase costs.
Comcast suspends Internet data limits, fees for Northeast customers | Tony Romm | February 3, 2021 | Washington Post
Omnispace is using its new capital from Fortress to flesh out its services and finish up pilot trials with some mobile operators and prepare the network for commercial usage starting in 2023, with the network ready in 2022.
Omnispace raises $60M to fuse satellites and 5G into one ubiquitous network | Danny Crichton | February 2, 2021 | TechCrunch
Video game usage is surging to record highs, enriching game developers and console makers, and boosting sales for e-commerce platforms.
The video game industry is leaving GameStop behind | Adam Epstein | January 28, 2021 | Quartz
Ultimately, the search bar got more usage, she said, and while it helped lead to overall higher conversions, Complex was also able to track trends and popular items by seeing what people frequently searched for.
‘Turn readers into shoppers’: Complex Shop’s journey to prevent cart abandonment | Kayleigh Barber | January 26, 2021 | Digiday
To give you a better understanding of its practical usage, we’ve also included real-life examples from B2B companies.
B2B lead generation using Instagram Stories: Six tips with examples | Sumeet Anand | January 22, 2021 | Search Engine Watch

In The Sense of Style, Steven Pinker settles a war among the scolds with a sensible approach to usage.
Go Ahead, End With a Preposition: Grammar Rules We All Can Live With | Nick Romeo | November 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
What infuriates some purists is the fact that correct usage ultimately depends on the majority of speakers.
Go Ahead, End With a Preposition: Grammar Rules We All Can Live With | Nick Romeo | November 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
After food stamp usage hit record-breaking numbers in 2013, Congress tried to pare back the benefit.
The People Vs. the Bank of Walmart | James Poulos | October 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Many people time their medication usage or implement behavioral changes as soon as they experience their specific aura.
How to Destroy Your Headaches | Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad | June 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The league also permanently banned four players for drug usage.
Mark Cuban Warns That Basketball Players Could Get the Sterling Treatment Next | Evan Weiner | June 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“Ill-usage” expresses the date of the death of Columbus in 1506, as he died in great neglect.
Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Every rigor of hard fare, and severe usage, was inexorably brought upon him.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter
Age and usage were to be of no avail in bringing this wretched piece of workmanship up to the standard of the average.
Antonio Stradivari | Horace William Petherick
Their rights and limitations in this regard are also bounded by charter, by-laws and usage.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles
The authority of a factor to fix the terms of selling may be by agreement or by usage, like any other agent.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for usage

usage

/ (ˈjuːsɪdʒ, -zɪdʒ) /

noun

the act or a manner of using; use; employment
constant use, custom, or habit

something permitted or established by custom or practice
what is actually said in a language, esp as contrasted with what is prescribed

Origin of usage

C14: via Old French, from Latin ūsus use (n)

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

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