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

Explanation

If something is used, that means it has been owned by someone else. If you buy used textbooks, that means they’re not new — someone else owned them and read them before you did. If you sell used cars, that means you’re selling cars that have already had at least one owner. Used can also describe things that have already served their purpose. Used batteries aren't good anymore: their power has been used up. People can also be used, and in this sense the word means “taken advantage of.” You might feel used by your neighbor if she's only nice to you when she needs you to water her plants.

Example Sentences

Researchers warn that AI deepfakes -- used to target global leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky -- can influence voter turnout and distort geopolitical events.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

To reduce the chances of immune complications or infection, the researchers used each mouse's own preserved microbiome rather than relying on donor samples.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2026

Palantir’s AI-driven defense and surveillance software has faced scrutiny around how tech like its Maven Smart System may have been used to target civilians in the Iran war.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

It is used in the UK at general elections and in local elections such as the ones just held in England.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

Nollie, Tine, and Betsie used up a month’s sugar ration baking cakes for his welcome-home party.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom