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

Its heat-resistant design, originally intended for reentry on Earth and Mars, could be used to handle the intense heating from aerobraking in Uranus' atmosphere.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

A men's mental health group that runs sport sessions such as yoga, football and darts, has been used as an informal referral service by the NHS.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

"Copper is the second most used material by the Department of Defense!" he said.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The components include sensors, so-called coreless motors that power precise high-speed movements and speed reducers often used in joints to mimic human motions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Happy memories of the dad he used to be flash behind my eyes like a photo album on fast forward.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam