usage

noun

us·​age ˈyü-sij How to pronounce usage (audio)
-zij
Synonyms of usagenext
1
a
: firmly established and generally accepted practice or procedure
b
: a uniform certain reasonable lawful practice existing in a particular locality or occupation and binding persons entering into transactions chiefly on the basis of presumed familiarity
c
: the way in which words and phrases are actually used (as in a particular form or sense) in a language community
2
a
: the action, amount, or mode of using
a decreased usage of electricity
b
: manner of treating

Synonyms of usage

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habit, practice, usage, custom, wont mean a way of acting fixed through repetition.

habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

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

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

wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

Examples of usage in a Sentence

Seat belt usage in the state is now mandatory. drug usage among college students Restaurant dishes must be able to withstand rough usage. efforts to reduce water usage increasing usage of the nation's highways This word occurs in casual usage. differences between British and American usage I came across an uncommon usage I'd like to discuss with you.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The model ranked first by usage in the last week on the global OpenRouter platform. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 Meta also agreed to make changes for teenage users of Facebook and Instagram nationwide, including daily usage limits and nighttime blocks, court papers show. — Diana Novak Jones, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Our new Time Limit commitments, Night Mode features and usage limits during school hours set the right path forward for our whole industry, but this framework will only work if all our peers join us. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 As part of the deal, Meta agreed to nationwide safeguards for teen users of Facebook and Instagram, including daily usage limits and nighttime blocks. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for usage

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from us use

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of usage was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing usage

Browse Nearby Words

USAF
usage
usage note
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Cite this Entry

“Usage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usage. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

usage

noun
us·​age ˈyü-sij How to pronounce usage (audio)
-zij
1
a
: usual practice or procedure
b
: the way in which words and phrases are actually used
2
a
: the action of using : use
increasing usage of the nation's highways
b
: manner of treating
restaurant dishes receive rough usage

Legal Definition

usage

noun
us·​age ˈyü-sij, -zij How to pronounce usage (audio)
: an habitual or uniform practice especially in an area or trade compare custom
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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