usage

noun

ˈyü-sij How to pronounce usage (audio)
Definition of usagenext
as in use
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the machine's warranty does not cover malfunctions that result from improper usage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun usage differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of usage are custom, habit, practice, and wont. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.

western-style dress is now common usage in international business

Where would custom be a reasonable alternative to usage?

The synonyms custom and usage are sometimes interchangeable, but custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.

the custom of wearing black at funerals

When could habit be used to replace usage?

In some situations, the words habit and usage are roughly equivalent. However, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

When might practice be a better fit than usage?

The words practice and usage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

When is wont a more appropriate choice than usage?

While in some cases nearly identical to usage, wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of usage Amika The Conductor Flat Iron: While this option is easy to operate and creates sleek, shiny results with just a few passes, our testers experienced issues turning on the flat iron after a just a few weeks of usage. —Olivia Cigliano, Footwear News, 12 June 2025 Advertisement Other organizations are speaking up about healthy AI usage, too. —Andrew R. Chow, Time, 12 June 2025 Once Butler was traded, Herro’s efficiency dipped as his usage rate spiked. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 June 2025 Those trends coincide with data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower showing that app usage of Temu and Shein in the U.S. is slowing significantly. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for usage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usage
  1. use
  2. application
Noun
  • The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2025
  • Any reductions in opioid use—even small ones—are a positive sign, added Amanda Williams, PhD, professor of clinical health psychology at University College London.
    — Kristen Fischer, Health, 14 June 2025
Definition of use
Noun
  • The Office of the Pardon Attorney and the White House continue to process thousands of applications, with the possibility of further high-profile pardons under active review.
    — Peter Aitken Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025
  • That program cost thousands and didn’t include real-world applications or hands-on training.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Definition of application

Browse Nearby Words

usable
usage
usages
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Cite this Entry

“Usage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usage. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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