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Definitions

used

[yoozd, yoost] / yuzd, yust /
ADJECTIVE
secondhand
Synonyms
STRONG
recycled worn
WEAK
hand-me-down nearly new not new passed down pre-owned

Usage

What is another way to say used? What is used often has depreciated or been diminished, sometimes completely consumed: a used automobile; All the butter has been used. Used is the past participle of use, which is a general verb: 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. 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.

Trump has previously used religious images in his posts.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Where borrowing exists, it tends to take the form of bank credit lines used for liquidity management — bridging capital calls or facilitating transactions — rather than supporting sustained leverage.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

They used handheld shovels to excavate blocks of salt, which were processed locally before being shipped around the country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

In addition to toothpaste, researchers and the PerioTrap team have developed a gel used after professional dental cleanings to block harmful bacteria, support a healthy microbiome, and maintain gum health.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

“Your room used to be his room. Your bed was his bed,” my mom said, wandering in.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith