usage

noun

ˈyü-sij How to pronounce usage (audio)
Definition of usagenext
as in use
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the machine's warranty does not cover malfunctions that result from improper usage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun usage differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of usage are custom, habit, practice, and wont. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.

western-style dress is now common usage in international business

Where would custom be a reasonable alternative to usage?

The synonyms custom and usage are sometimes interchangeable, but custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.

the custom of wearing black at funerals

When could habit be used to replace usage?

In some situations, the words habit and usage are roughly equivalent. However, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

When might practice be a better fit than usage?

The words practice and usage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

When is wont a more appropriate choice than usage?

While in some cases nearly identical to usage, wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of usage Subscribers can also face lower speeds during peak usage hours. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 19 May 2025 Third-party vendors are developing more sophisticated reporting mechanisms to help clients audit their own regulatory compliance as well as track sustainability efforts through advanced data analytics in areas like carbon emissions, energy usage and operational efficiency. —Vidya Plainfield, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025 Cue also said Safari’s search usage declined for the first time in April as more people turned to AI, sending shares of Alphabet tumbling. —Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 8 May 2025 In the end, the Mets made the right ones, especially in bringing in closer Edwin Diaz after trying to limit his usage in recent days. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for usage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usage
  1. use
  2. application
Noun
  • At the service desk, patrons will be required to watch videos about proper use and how to properly lock the bikes up.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2025
  • Investing funds to prevent and end homelessness is a wise use of federal dollars.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
Definition of use
Noun
  • Some customers will feel comfortable booking a trip using a mobile application.
    — Miguel McInnis, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • The Front Page Highlights Trump Pardoned Tax Cheat After Mother Attended $1 Million Dinner Paul Walczak’s pardon application cited his mother’s support for the president, including raising millions of dollars and a connection to a plot to publicize a Biden family diary.
    — Kenneth P. Vogel Aaron Boxerman Christina Jewett Lydia DePillis, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Definition of application

Browse Nearby Words

usable
usage
usages
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Cite this Entry

“Usage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usage. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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