# be used to

CEFR B1 · Fixed phrase

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/be-used-to
Updated: 2026-08-05

## Definition

to be familiar with something because you have experienced it many times before. It means that something is no longer strange or difficult for you.

For teachers: to be accustomed to a state or activity through previous experience. This construction functions as a stative predicate where 'used' is an adjective followed by the preposition 'to', which requires a noun or gerund object.

## Examples

- I am used to the cold weather here.
- After living in the city for five years, she is used to the constant noise of traffic at night.
- The surgical team is used to working under extreme pressure for twelve-hour shifts without losing focus.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am used to wake up early." but "I am used to waking up early." — the word 'to' is a preposition here, so it must be followed by a gerund (-ing) rather than an infinitive.

## Usage notes

- always followed by a noun or a verb ending in -ing, never the base form of a verb.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'used to + infinitive' (past habits); emphasize that 'be used to' describes a current state of familiarity and requires the -ing form for actions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.