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 most threatening stockpile is almost 1,000 pounds of uranium enriched to 60%, which without further enrichment could be used to make a crude nuclear weapon.

From The Wall Street Journal

The teenager, who sang in his school choir for five years, said: "Even as a kid I used to sing to myself."

From BBC

That caveat comes with the acknowledgement that the surface at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium was a used one, offering little margin for error.

From BBC

With Beatlemania, argues Fink, “huge masses of women got used to smashing through police barricades.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Now he’s the fearsome monster who can’t quite remember the man he used to be.

From Salon