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

Derived 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

If your goal is broader — creating a small family nest egg that can be used for any purpose — a Roth IRA or taxable brokerage account offers more flexibility.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Other measures considered AI-related skills and experience listed in employees’ LinkedIn profiles, and keywords used in corporate board descriptions and director biographies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

SK Group chair Chey Tae-won last week vowed to double production capacity of silicon wafers used to make memory chips.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

“Getting used to it as a player, kind of understanding the flow of the game, that’s probably the toughest part for me,” Atkins said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

It's the same principle used in the police "lie detector" test, only the Damasios are interested in a different sort of truth.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman