usual

[ yoo-zhoo-uhl, yoozh-wuhl ]

adjective

1. habitual or customary:

   her usual skill.

   Synonyms: accustomed

2. commonly met with or observed in experience; ordinary:

   the usual January weather.

   Synonyms: regular, familiar, prevalent, prevailing, general

3. commonplace; everyday:

   He says the usual things.

   Synonyms: predictable

noun

1. something that is usual:

   He could expect only the usual.

usual

/ ˈjuːʒʊəl /

adjective

1. of the most normal, frequent, or regular type; customary

   that's the usual sort of application to send

noun

1. ordinary or commonplace events (esp in the phrase out of the usual )
2. the usual informal.
   the habitual or usual drink, meal, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈusualness, noun

Other Words From

• usu·al·ly adverb
• usu·al·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of usual¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin ūsuālis, equivalent to Latin ūsu-, stem of ūsus “use” ( use (noun)) + -ālis -al ¹; compare Old French usuel

Word History and Origins

Origin of usual¹

C14: from Late Latin ūsuālis ordinary, from Latin ūsus use

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as usual, in the customary or usual manner:

   As usual, he forgot my birthday.

More idioms and phrases containing usual

see as usual ; business as usual .

Synonym Study

Usual, customary, habitual refer to a settled and constant practice. Usual indicates something that is to be expected by reason of previous experience, which shows it to occur more often than not: There were the usual crowds at the celebration. Something that is customary is in accordance with prevailing usage or individual practice: It is customary to finish up with a bonfire. That which is habitual has become settled or constant as the result of habit on the part of the individual: The merchants wore habitual smiles throughout the season.

Example Sentences

From April 2026, farms worth more than £1m will face an effective inheritance tax rate of 20% - half the usual rate of 40%.

From BBC

From April 2026, farms worth more than £1m will face an effective inheritance tax rate of 20% - half the usual rate of 40%.

From BBC

“For NASA, this is not a time for business as usual,” lead author Norman Augustine, a former executive at Lockheed Martin, said in September.

From Los Angeles Times

By the look of that lunch table above, Trump is spending most of his time playing golf and tweeting, as usual.

From Salon

This likely explains why Trump is demanding that the new Senate majority leader, whoever that runs out to be — Mitch McConnell is retiring from GOP leadership, at long last — will ensure that his nominations are handled by recess appointments rather than the usual constitutionally required confirmation process.

From Salon

Related Words

• constant
• conventional
• current
• customary
• everyday
• expected
• familiar
• frequent
• natural
• normal
• prevailing
• regular
• routine