Definitions
01past tense of use
A2 · Elementary
v. the past form of 'use', meaning you did something with a tool or object.
v. past tense and past participle of 'use', indicating the employment of an object or method in the past.
“I used a sharp knife to cut the vegetables for the soup.”
“The researchers used a combination of qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to gather a comprehensive dataset for the study.”
02past habit
A2 · Elementary
v. you use this to talk about something you did often in the past, but do not do now.
v. a semi-modal construction followed by an infinitive to describe past states or habitual actions that no longer occur.
“I used to live in London, but I moved to the countryside last year.”
“Before the advent of digital streaming, households used to rely on physical media like tapes and discs for home entertainment.”
Usage
Always followed by 'to' and the base form of a verb.
Pitfall
I didn't used to like coffee.
I didn't use to like coffee.
In negative sentences and questions with 'did', the 'd' is dropped from 'used' because 'did' already shows the past tense.
Synonyms
03second-hand
A2 · Elementary
adj. something that was owned or used by someone else before you.
adj. previously owned or utilized; not new at the time of purchase or acquisition.
日本語:中古※
“He bought a used car because it was much cheaper than a new one.”
“The market for used luxury goods has expanded significantly as consumers seek sustainable alternatives to fast fashion.”
Synonyms
04familiar with
B1 · Intermediate
adj. when you have done something so often that it feels normal or easy.
adj. accustomed to or familiar with something through regular experience.
“She is used to the cold weather because she grew up in Canada.”
“After three months in the new role, the manager was finally used to the high-pressure environment of the trading floor.”
Usage
Followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (-ing form).
Pitfall
I am used to wake up early.
I am used to waking up early.
When 'used to' means 'accustomed to', the 'to' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a noun or an -ing verb.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “used” in context.
Verb
01. commonly used
“The word 'hello' is the most commonly used greeting in English.”
adv + verb
02. used to live
“My grandmother used to live in a small village before moving to London.”
verb + infinitive
03. widely used in schools
“This new software is now widely used in schools across the country.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
Adjective
04. heavily used
“The local library is heavily used by students during exam season.”
adv + adj
05. used car
“He bought a used car because he couldn't afford a brand new one.”
adj + noun
06. used to the noise
“Living in the city center means you quickly get used to the noise.”
adj + prep + noun
Etymology
From Middle English used, equivalent to use + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- 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
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/used
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0