used to doing

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   familiar with something because you have experienced it often, so it no longer feels strange.

   Grammar: Always used with a form of 'be' (am/is/are/was/were) before 'used to'. Followed by a noun or an -ing form: used to doing something.

   Patterns

   • be used to doing something
   • be used to something
   • get used to doing something

   She is used to working long hours, so she doesn't mind staying late.

   I'm not used to getting up so early.

   They were used to living in a noisy city, so the countryside felt too quiet.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   accustomed to a particular situation or thing, so it feels normal.

   Grammar: Can be followed by a noun: used to the noise. The 'to' here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive.

   Patterns

   • be used to the noise
   • get used to the climate
   • become used to something

   He is used to the cold weather because he grew up in Canada.

   You'll soon get used to the new system.

   She quickly became used to the smell of the hospital.

Common combinations

get used to doing

It took me a month to get used to driving on the left.

be used to something

I'm used to spicy food.

not used to doing

He's not used to being criticized.

Synonyms and how they differ

accustomed to

'Accustomed to' is more formal and often used in writing; 'used to' is more common in everyday speech.

Opposites

Commonly confused: used to doing or used to do? used to doing or be used to?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “used to doing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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