: familiar with something so that it seems normal or usual
I'm not used to driving this car yet.
He is used to criticism.
The dog will need a few days to become used to its new home.
She quickly got used to the warm weather.
1
—used to say a situation existed in the past but does not exist now
My grandmother said winters used to be harder here.
2
—used to say something happened repeatedly in the past but does not happen now
We used to go out more often.
They used to eat a lot of junk food but now they only eat healthy foods.
Examples of used to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2026
Across the country, distilleries are adding forest stewardship to their core business model, ensuring that the wood used to age their spirits is replaced tenfold.
—Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
This data will be used to design ARC, the company’s first commercial fusion power plant.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
In Beijing, people are used to humanoid robots walking down the street, and participating in races and other events.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
That could then be used to estimate what the facilities would be producing if clouds and/or aerosols weren’t scattering the sunlight that would otherwise reach the panels.
—ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Both of these items can be used to reduce unintentional noises that can be picked up by the mic.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
University of Oregon researchers repurposed a tool called a potentiostat, typically used to test batteries, to send an electrical current through coffee.
—Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Their owners used to claim a loophole in the state’s gambling laws.
—Jeff A. Chamer
may 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Andrade is used to clashing with the DeSantis administration.
—Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2026
Across the country, distilleries are adding forest stewardship to their core business model, ensuring that the wood used to age their spirits is replaced tenfold.
—Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
This data will be used to design ARC, the company’s first commercial fusion power plant.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
In Beijing, people are used to humanoid robots walking down the street, and participating in races and other events.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
That could then be used to estimate what the facilities would be producing if clouds and/or aerosols weren’t scattering the sunlight that would otherwise reach the panels.
—ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Both of these items can be used to reduce unintentional noises that can be picked up by the mic.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
University of Oregon researchers repurposed a tool called a potentiostat, typically used to test batteries, to send an electrical current through coffee.
—Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Their owners used to claim a loophole in the state’s gambling laws.
—Jeff A. Chamer
may 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Used to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/used%20to. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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