Dictionary entry details
• USE (noun)
Meaning:
The act of using
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
utilization; utilisation; use; usage; exercise; employment
Context examples:
he warned against the use of narcotic drugs / skilled in the utilization of computers
Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):
activity (any specific behavior)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):
application; practical application (the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose)
recycling (the act of processing used or abandoned materials for use in creating new products)
development; exploitation (the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful)
abuse; misuse (improper or excessive use)
play (utilization or exercise)
practice (the exercise of a profession)
Meaning:
A particular service
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Context examples:
he put his knowledge to good use / patrons have their uses
Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):
usefulness; utility (the quality of being of practical use)
Meaning:
What something is used for
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
function; purpose; use; role
Context examples:
the function of an auger is to bore holes / ballet is beautiful but what use is it?
Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):
usefulness; utility (the quality of being of practical use)
Attribute:
functional (designed for or capable of a particular function or use)
nonfunctional (not having or performing a function)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):
raison d'etre (the purpose that justifies a thing's existence)
Meaning:
(economics) the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Synonyms:
use of goods and services; economic consumption; usance; consumption; use
Context example:
the consumption of energy has increased steadily
Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):
demand (the ability and desire to purchase goods and services)
Domain category:
economic science; economics; political economy (the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):
conspicuous consumption (buying expensive services and products in order to flaunt your wealth)
Meaning:
A pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
habit; wont; use
Context examples:
she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair / long use had hardened him to it
Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):
custom; usage; usance (accepted or habitual practice)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):
ritual (stereotyped behavior)
second nature (acquired behavior that is practiced so long it seems innate)
cleanliness (the habit of keeping free of superficial imperfections)
Meaning:
(law) the exercise of the legal right to enjoy the benefits of owning property
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
enjoyment; use
Context example:
we were given the use of his boat
Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):
legal right (a right based in law)
Domain category:
jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):
fair use (the conditions under which you can use material that is copyrighted by someone else without paying royalties)
fruition (enjoyment derived from use or possession)
Meaning:
Exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
manipulation; use
Context example:
his manipulation of his friends was scandalous
Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):
influence (causing something without any direct or apparent effort)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):
mind game (deliberate actions of calculated psychological manipulation intended to intimidate or confuse (usually for competitive advantage))
• USE (verb)
Meaning:
Put into service; make work or employ (something) for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Synonyms:
utilize; utilise; use; employ; apply
Context examples:
use your head! / we only use Spanish at home / I can't use this tool / Apply a magnetic field here / This thinking was applied to many projects / How do you utilize this tool? / I apply this rule to get good results / use the plastic bags to store the food / He doesn't know how to use a computer
Cause:
apply; go for; hold (be pertinent or relevant or applicable)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):
exploit; work (use or manipulate to one's advantage)
exploit; tap (draw from; make good use of)
extend; strain (use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity)
exercise; exert (put to use)
enjoy (have benefit from)
take (travel or go by means of a certain kind of transportation, or a certain route)
share (use jointly or in common)
put to work; work (cause to work)
implement (apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design)
fall back; recur; resort (have recourse to)
recycle; reprocess; reuse (use again after processing)
cannibalise; cannibalize (use parts of something to repair something else)
overdrive; overuse (make use of too often or too extensively)
commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give (give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause)
play (employ in a game or in a specific position)
play (use or move)
pull out all the stops (use all resources available)
assign; put (attribute or give)
ply (use diligently)
address (address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards something, such as a question)
waste (use inefficiently or inappropriately)
misapply; misuse (apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly)
avail (use to one's advantage)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Sentence example:
They use the animals
Meaning:
Take or consume (regularly or habitually)
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Synonyms:
habituate; use
Context example:
She uses drugs rarely
Hypernyms (to "use" is one way to...):
consume; have; ingest; take; take in (serve oneself to, or consume regularly)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):
drink; tope (drink excessive amounts of alcohol; be an alcoholic)
board (lodge and take meals (at))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Seek or achieve an end by using to one's advantage
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context examples:
She uses her influential friends to get jobs / The president's wife used her good connections
Hypernyms (to "use" is one way to...):
exploit; work (use or manipulate to one's advantage)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):
take advantage; trespass (make excessive use of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
They use him to write the letter
Meaning:
Use up, consume fully
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Synonyms:
expend; use
Context example:
The legislature expended its time on school questions
"Use" entails doing...:
consume; deplete; eat; eat up; exhaust; run through; use up; wipe out (use up (resources or materials))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):
blow; squander; waste (spend thoughtlessly; throw away)
occupy; take; use up (require (time or space))
spare (use frugally or carefully)
abuse (use wrongly or improperly or excessively)
abuse; misuse; pervert (change the inherent purpose or function of something)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
They use the money
Also:
use up (use up (resources or materials))
Meaning:
Avail oneself to
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
practice; use; apply
Context examples:
apply a principle / practice a religion / use care when going down the stairs / use your common sense / practice non-violent resistance
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):
follow (adhere to or practice)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Habitually do something (use only in the past tense)
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context examples:
She used to call her mother every week but now she calls only occasionally / I used to get sick when I ate in that dining hall / They used to vacation in the Bahamas
Hypernyms (to "use" is one way to...):
act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
