Meaning & use
to use
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To make something do a job for you or help you reach a goal.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with for or to: use a knife for bread, use it to cut bread.
Patterns
- use something for something
- use something to do something
- use something as something
You can use this app to track your spending.
She used a spoon as a makeshift shovel.
Which pen did you use to sign the form?
verbtransitive
To take or spend an amount of something from a supply, so that less remains.
Grammar: Often followed by up when the supply is finished: use up the milk.
Patterns
- use something up
- use a lot of something
We used all the flour making pancakes.
This old heater uses a lot of electricity.
Who used up the last of the shampoo?
verbtransitivedisapproving
To treat a person as a tool for your own benefit, without caring about them.
Grammar: Takes a person as object and implies unfair treatment: he used her.
Patterns
- use someone
She felt he was only using her to get a promotion.
Don't let anyone use you just because you are generous.
Word forms
| third person singular | uses |
|---|---|
| past tense | used |
| past participle | used |
| -ing form | using |
Common combinations
- use a tool
- Use a tool with a long handle for the high shelf.
- use your head
- Use your head and double-check the numbers.
- use the opportunity
- We should use the opportunity to ask questions.
- use up
- Don't use up all the hot water.
- use as a reference
- You may use this guide as a reference.
- use wisely
- Use your time wisely during the exam.
Synonyms and how they differ
- utilize
- Utilize is more formal and often implies using something practically or in a new way, while use is the natural everyday choice.
- employ
- Employ suggests putting a method or skill to work and is more formal than use.
- apply
- Apply stresses putting something onto a surface or into practice, as in apply a rule, while use is more general.
- exploit
- Exploit usually suggests using a person or resource unfairly, which is stronger than neutral use.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: to use or used to? to use or use (noun)?
to use vs used to
Used to followed by a verb describes a past habit, as in I used to swim, and is not the same as to use something.
to use vs use (noun)
The noun is pronounced with a /s/ sound (/juːs/), while the verb is pronounced with a /z/ sound (/juːz/).
Practice
We need to ______ a ladder to reach the top shelf.
Choose one answer.
After need to, the base form use is required. Used to would describe a past habit, not an action to be done now.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to use”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.