# use

/ˈjus/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/use
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to employ something

verb · CEFR A1

to do something with a tool, a machine, or a method to finish a task.

For teachers: to employ something as a means of accomplishing a purpose or achieving a result. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- You can use this sharp knife to cut the vegetables for the soup.
- The researchers decided to use a new statistical model to analyze the data collected during the three-year study.

### 2. to consume or exhaust

verb · CEFR A2

to finish a supply of something until there is none left.

For teachers: to consume or expend a limited resource or supply. Often used with the particle 'up'.

- We used all the milk this morning, so we need to buy more.
- The manufacturing process uses up a significant amount of water, leading to concerns about local environmental sustainability.

### 3. to treat someone

verb · CEFR B2

to behave toward someone in a specific way, often unfairly.

For teachers: to treat or behave toward a person in a particular manner; often carries a negative connotation of exploitation.

- He felt that his friends were just using him for his money.
- The biography suggests that the monarch used his advisors as mere tools to further his own political ambitions.

### 4. the act of employing

noun · CEFR A2

the act of using something or the state of being used.

For teachers: the act of employing something or the state of being employed for a purpose. Pronounced with a /s/ sound, unlike the verb.

- The use of mobile phones is not allowed during the exam.
- The widespread use of renewable energy has significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the industrial district.

### 5. purpose or function

noun · CEFR B1

the reason why something exists or the job it is meant to do.

For teachers: the purpose for which something is used; a specific function or application.

- This old building has found a new use as a community center.
- Engineers are still discovering new uses for this synthetic material in the aerospace industry.

### 6. usefulness or benefit

noun · CEFR B1

the quality of being helpful or providing an advantage.

For teachers: the quality of being useful or providing a benefit; often used in the phrase 'of use'.

- I hope this information is of some use to you in your research.
- The manual was of little use to the technicians because it lacked diagrams for the updated hardware configuration.

## Examples

- The use of plastic bags is decreasing.
- The architect explained the intended use of each room in the new community center.
- While the initial use of the technology was limited to military applications, it eventually found widespread adoption in the consumer electronics market.

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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.