1
: having been used before
one of the most used quotes
: such as
a
: already exhausted for its intended purpose
a used tissue
b
: having had a previous owner : secondhand
a used car
used clothing/furniture
2
: accustomed, habituated
… showing how used he was to papers with lies on them …—
Gilbert Millstein
Gilbert Millsteinused
2 of 2past tense and past participle of use entry 1
Examples of used in a Sentence
Adjective
The books on this shelf are used.
my grandmother has spent her whole life on the farm and is used to working hard
Recent Examples on the Web
Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
Getty Images Cox Automotive is reporting that August saw record electric vehicle (EV) sales and rising market share in both new and used markets as buyers rushed to secure tax credits before the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credit expiration.
—Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Because those systems are becoming more complex, keeping them properly tuned on a new, used or modified car is a challenge.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The combination of federal incentives, stabilized pricing, and long-term maintenance savings makes the used EV market something to consider for budget-conscious people.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for used
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
In December, a federal grand jury in western New York announced the indictment of six New York men for allegedly stealing at least 90,000 pounds of used grease from restaurants in and around Rochester.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
Getty Images Cox Automotive is reporting that August saw record electric vehicle (EV) sales and rising market share in both new and used markets as buyers rushed to secure tax credits before the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credit expiration.
—Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Because those systems are becoming more complex, keeping them properly tuned on a new, used or modified car is a challenge.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The combination of federal incentives, stabilized pricing, and long-term maintenance savings makes the used EV market something to consider for budget-conscious people.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for used
Cite this Entry
“Used.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/used. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
used
adjective
ˈyüzd 
in the phrase ",
used to ",
usually ˈyüs(t)
1
: employed in accomplishing something
a much used excuse
2
: that has been used
3
: having the habit of doing or experiencing
is used to flying
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