usage

[yoo-sij, -zij]

noun

1. a customary way of doing something; a custom or practice.

   the usages of the last 50 years.

   Synonyms: convention, habit, tradition

2. 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.

3. a particular instance of this.

   a usage borrowed from French.

4. any manner of doing or handling something; treatment.

   rough usage.

5. habitual or customary use; long-continued practice.

   immemorial usage.

6. an act of using or employing; use.

usage

/ -zɪdʒ, ˈjuːsɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act or a manner of using; use; employment

2. constant use, custom, or habit

3. something permitted or established by custom or practice

4. what is actually said in a language, esp as contrasted with what is prescribed

Confusables Note

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 Word Forms

• nonusage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of usage¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of usage¹

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

Example Sentences

While Alphabet’s stock currently trades at a 2027 price-to-earnings multiple of 22x, Jones said it “does not reflect its vertically integrated technology stack, consumer and enterprise usage of its products and dominant advertising platforms.”

Read more on MarketWatch

While Alphabet’s stock currently trades at a 2027 price-to-earnings multiple of 22x, Jones said it “does not reflect its vertically integrated technology stack, consumer and enterprise usage of its products and dominant advertising platforms.”

Read more on MarketWatch

Investors may also be worried about slowing usage and downloads of ChatGPT, Klein said.

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But Gemini’s usage rose by 2 percentage points from July, while ChatGPT’s slipped by a point in that same time, according to the survey.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Britain's energy regulator said on Friday its price cap for households' gas and electricity usage would inch higher from January.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• management