usage

[ yoo-sij, -zij ]
/ ˈyu sɪdʒ, -zɪdʒ /
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.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT 2ND-3RD GRADE VOCAB FROM BOOKS!

Are you learning new vocabulary? Or do you just have an interest in words? Either way, this quiz is for you.
Question 1 of 10
orchard
body of land completely surrounded by water
group of cultivated fruit trees
long mournful cry
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of usage

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

usage 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 FROM usage

non·us·age, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH usage

use usage utilize (see usage note at the current entry) (see synonym study at use)

Words nearby usage

us customary system, usa, usable, usaf, usafi, usage, usageaster, usan, usance, usar, usb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to usage

management, control, currency, operation, regime, use, acceptance, regulation, treatment, way, convention, formula, method, form, routine, practice, running, habitude, tradition, wont

Example sentences from the Web for usage

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

Word Origin for 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