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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.

Micron is more narrowly focused than Intel, as it makes chips used in computer memory components.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

The TPU was initially used in data-center cloud servers, but as AI became more widespread, the chips were used to train and run Google’s generative-AI models, including its Gemini chatbots and the Nano Banana image-generator.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

To better understand what caused this decline, researchers used a DNA technique that captures all genetic material preserved in bone.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

“I’m giving away a Huffy basketball freestanding hoop because it’s just taking up space. We used to play horse and shoot baskets together. My son is now 35, he doesn’t live here anymore.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

He used to get quite angry at me for making a fuss.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo