usual
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.something that happens most of the time or is what you expect to see.
adj.occurring or used most commonly; conforming to a typical pattern or habit.
Simple“I went for my usual walk in the park after finishing work.”
In context“Despite the heavy rain, the shop opened at its usual time to accommodate the early morning commuters.”
PitfallAs usual than before, he was late. As usual, he was late.The phrase 'as usual' is a fixed expression and does not take 'than'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.the drink or food that you always order in a place you visit often.
n.a specific item, typically a drink or meal, that a customer habitually orders in a particular establishment.
Simple“The bartender saw me coming and already had my usual ready on the counter.”
In context“He didn't even look at the menu, simply nodding to the waiter who knew to bring his usual of black coffee and a croissant.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.the way things normally are.
n.the typical or expected state of affairs; often used in the phrase 'than usual'.
Simple“The streets were much quieter than usual on Sunday morning.”
In context“The traffic was significantly heavier than usual due to the construction work on the main bridge.”
UsageCommonly follows 'than' or 'as' to compare a current state to a typical one.
Usage concurrent usual
From Middle English usual, from Old French usuel, from Latin ūsuālis (“for use, fit for use, also of common use, customary, common, ordinary, usual”), from ūsus (“use, habit, custom”), from the past participle stem of ūtī (“to use”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃eyt- (“to take along, fetch”). Displaced native Old English ġewunelīċ.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.