used

[yoozd, yoost]

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.

used

/ juːzd /

adjective

1. bought or sold second-hand

   used cars

Other Word Forms

• half-used adjective
• well-used adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of used¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. used to, accustomed or habituated to.

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

More idioms and phrases containing used

• it takes getting used to
• use

Example Sentences

Echoing this, Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said that the drug has been "used safely by millions of people for decades, including during pregnancy".

From BBC

All of which can be summed up by the annual event’s intuitive catchphrase, “The People’s Republic of Beyond Fest,” a term often used in the festival’s promotional messaging.

From Los Angeles Times

Near the exit was a giant statue of Cartman, the “South Park” character long used by Parker and Stone to depict America at its most crass.

From Los Angeles Times

WILTON, Calif. — On a balmy day last week south of Sacramento, a group of women took turns grinding and preparing acorn flour, and then used fire-heated stones to cook it with water in woven baskets.

From Los Angeles Times

The students used augmented reality scenes, testing the app on the iPad, to understand an object’s position in relation to other objects.

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

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.