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Definitions

use

[yooz, yoost, yoos] / yuz, yust, yus /
NOUN
act or instance of employment; utility
Synonyms
STRONGEST
handling operation service usage
STRONG
adoption appliance exercise exercising exertion mobilization usability utility
WEAK
capitalization treatment wear wear and tear
Antonyms
STRONG
inappropriateness unsuitability uselessness
NOUN
function, purpose, benefit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
benefit function help need purpose value
STRONG
advantage applicability call convenience fitness good helpfulness necessity object occasion point profit reason relevance serviceability usefulness worth
WEAK
appropriateness avail mileage
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disadvantage harm hindrance hurt injury
STRONG
loss
NOUN
custom
Synonyms
STRONGEST
custom habit practice routine
STRONG
way wont
WEAK
habitude
VERB
utilize; consume
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adopt apply employ handle manage operate practice run spend utilize wield work
STRONG
capitalize capitalize on consume deplete exercise exert exhaust expend occupy ply squander take waste
WEAK
avail oneself of bring into play bring to bear draw on find a use make do with make the most of make use play on press into service put forth put into action put to use put to work run through turn to account
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cease halt leave alone let go mismanage misuse neglect reject renounce repudiate stop
STRONG
save
WEAK
abstain
VERB
manipulate, take advantage of
Synonyms
STRONGEST
exploit manipulate take advantage of
STRONG
abuse coerce pimp
WEAK
blackmail con control rip off work

Usage

What is another way to say use? The verb use is a general word: to use a telephone; to use a saw and other tools; to use one's eyes; to use eggs in cooking. As applied to persons, use implies some selfish or sinister purpose: to use another to advance oneself. What is used often has depreciated or been diminished, sometimes completely consumed: a used automobile; All the butter has been used. Utilize implies practical or profitable use: to utilize the means at hand, a modern system of lighting.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During his inaugural Palm Sunday address, the pontiff denounced those who use God to justify war and urged prayers for peace, particularly for those suffering in the Middle East.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Given high annual BDC fees that can run five percentage points or more, the managers need to use leverage in order to pay dividends that run at close to 10%.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Early models of what Raytheon called the Radarange were too large and pricey for at-home use.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

If designers understood the hurdles that users faced, they could reduce the friction between intention and action by making the machine intuitive to use.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Only his knife would be any use in the dark.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.