usual

[yoo-zhoo-uhl, yoozh-wuhl]

adjective

1. habitual or customary.

   her usual skill.

   Synonyms: accustomed

2. commonly met with or observed in experience; ordinary.

   the usual January weather.

   Synonyms: regular, familiar, prevalent, prevailing, general

3. commonplace; everyday.

   He says the usual things.

   Synonyms: predictable

noun

1. something that is usual.

   He could expect only the usual.

usual

/ ˈjuːʒʊəl /

adjective

1. of the most normal, frequent, or regular type; customary

   that's the usual sort of application to send

noun

1. ordinary or commonplace events (esp in the phrase out of the usual )

2. informal,  the habitual or usual drink, meal, etc

Other Word Forms

• usualness noun
• usually adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of usual¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin ūsuālis, equivalent to Latin ūsu-, stem of ūsus “use” ( use (noun)) + -ālis -al ¹; compare Old French usuel

Word History and Origins

Origin of usual¹

C14: from Late Latin ūsuālis ordinary, from Latin ūsus _use

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as usual, in the customary or usual manner.

   As usual, he forgot my birthday.

see as usual; business as usual.

Synonym Study

Usual, customary, habitual refer to a settled and constant practice. Usual indicates something that is to be expected by reason of previous experience, which shows it to occur more often than not: There were the usual crowds at the celebration. Something that is customary is in accordance with prevailing usage or individual practice: It is customary to finish up with a bonfire. That which is habitual has become settled or constant as the result of habit on the part of the individual: The merchants wore habitual smiles throughout the season.

Example Sentences

On a weekend in mid-August, hundreds of inmates at a minimum-security prison in Bryan, Texas, were locked down during their usual time for strolling the grassy campus and visiting with family and friends.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It's kind of been a bit strange because it hasn't been your usual, go to the funeral and then you deal with it," she said.

Read more on BBC

The heroes weren’t the usual suspects for the Mariners.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And second, the slow start his usual rivals for the prize have made.

Read more on BBC

Issuers are often risky, but today look more out-there than usual.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• constant 
• conventional 
• current 
• customary 
• everyday 
• expected www.thesaurus.com
• familiar 
• frequent 
• natural 
• normal 
• prevailing 
• regular 
• routine