Word
unused
Phoneticsun·used, stress on the second syllable
/ənˈjuzd/
Definitions
01new or not yet used
B1 · Intermediate
adj. not used yet; still new or in its original condition.
adj. not having been put to use; remaining in a pristine or original state.
“The guest bedroom had several unused towels neatly folded on the bed.”
“The company decided to sell off its unused equipment to recover some of the initial investment costs before the end of the fiscal year.”
02not accustomed to
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adj. not used to something; not having experience with a situation.
adj. not accustomed or habituated to a particular condition or environment; typically followed by the preposition 'to'.
“He was unused to the heat of the desert and felt tired quickly.”
“Being unused to such public scrutiny, the young author found the sudden media attention both overwhelming and intrusive.”
Usage
Always followed by the preposition 'to' and a noun or gerund.
Pitfall
He was unused at the cold weather.
He was unused to the cold weather.
The adjective 'unused' requires the preposition 'to' when it means 'not accustomed'.
Teaching tip
In modern speech, 'not used to' is much more common than 'unused to', which can sound quite formal or literary.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From un- + used.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. unused to
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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