used to
Two everyday senses. As a past marker (used to + verb): something that happened regularly, or was true, in the past but isn't now — "We used to live by the sea." After be or get (be/get used to + noun or -ing): accustomed to, or comfortable with, something — "I'm used to the noise now."
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I am used to the noise in this city.”
“I used to play the guitar every day when I was a student.”
“She moved to a cold country, but she is finally used to the freezing winter weather.”
“My grandfather used to work as a baker, so he still wakes up before the sun rises every single morning.”
“After living in the desert for five years, he is finally getting used to the extreme heat during the summer months.”
“Although the transition to a remote working environment was initially jarring, the staff eventually became used to the lack of daily face-to-face interaction.”
From *used*, the past tense of the verb *use*, which held the archaic sense of being in the habit of performing an action, combined with the infinitive marker *to*.
- 01
ain't what it used to was
Is not what it used to be; (expressing nostalgia).
- 02
get used
To become accustomed to something; to acclimate; to adjust.
- 03
use a sledgehammer to crack a nut
To use disproportionate or significantly excessive force to carry out an action; to do something overzealously.
- 04
use in anger
Used for its intended purpose, as opposed to e.g. practice or testing
- 05
use one's head
To think carefully, especially as an alternative to being guided by one's emotions.
- 06
use one's noggin
To think, especially in a careful or clever manner.
Last updated August 10, 2026