used

American  

[yoozd, yoost] / yuzd, yust /

adjective

1. previously used or owned; secondhand.

   a used car.

2. showing wear or being worn out.

   a thrift store that accepts used clothing.

3. employed for a purpose; utilized.

   a frequently used dictionary.

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idioms

1. used to, accustomed or habituated to.

   I'm not used to cold weather. They weren't used to getting up so early.

used British  

/ juːzd /

adjective

1. bought or sold second-hand

   used cars

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used More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing used

• it takes getting used to
• use

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Usage

What is another way to say used? Something that is used has been employed for a purpose or previously owned. Used is the past participle of the general verb use. Do you know the difference between use and utilize? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

• half-used adjective
• well-used adjective

Etymology

Origin of used

First recorded in 1325–75; use + -ed ²

Example Sentences

“The government used food as a control mechanism,” Kazin noted, “and they controlled access to it”.

From MarketWatch

For instance, she said, she made three small baskets for the children of a friend and was delighted when one used her basket to carry flower petals to toss during a wedding.

From Los Angeles Times

I used up all my lives on that one.

From Los Angeles Times

They used to do their “Young People’s Specials,” luckily for me, out of Cincinnati, Ohio.

From Los Angeles Times

Someone had sent me this thing that said that I “lashed out” or used a word that was quite a violent one, like I was lashing back at James Cameron.

From Los Angeles Times