usage

American  

[yoo-sij, -zij] / ˈyu sɪdʒ, -zɪdʒ /

noun

1. a customary way of doing something; a custom or practice.

   the usages of the last 50 years.

   Synonyms:

   convention, habit, tradition

2. the customary manner in which a language or a form of a language is spoken or written.

   English usage; a grammar based on usage rather than on arbitrary notions of correctness.

3. a particular instance of this.

   a usage borrowed from French.

4. any manner of doing or handling something; treatment.

   rough usage.

5. habitual or customary use; long-continued practice.

   immemorial usage.

6. an act of using or employing; use.

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usage British  

/ -zɪdʒ, ˈjuːsɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act or a manner of using; use; employment

2. constant use, custom, or habit

3. something permitted or established by custom or practice

4. what is actually said in a language, esp as contrasted with what is prescribed

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Commonly Confused

The nouns usage and use are related in origin and meaning and to some extent overlap in their use. Usage usually refers to habitual or customary practices or procedures: Some usages of the Anglican Church are similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also commonly used in reference to language practices: English usage is divided in the pronunciation of aunt. Use refers to the act of using or employing (something): She put her extra money to good use. Perhaps in the belief that it is the more impressive term, usage is sometimes used where use would be more natural: Has your usage of a personal computer made the work any easier?

Other Word Forms

• nonusage noun

Etymology

Origin of usage

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Medieval Latin ūsāticum, equivalent to Latin ūs(us) ( use ) + -āticum -age

Example Sentences

The company announced on Reddit it was investigating an issue where usage limits were being hit faster than expected.

From BBC

Alongside government action, Albanese urged Australians to limit unnecessary usage of fuel, including switching to public transport where possible to preserve supplies for essential industries.

From BBC

A year ago, Kelly spoke about how AI usage was reaching an inflection point, with more daily usage and demand.

From MarketWatch

Reeves acknowledged that gas usage would go up in the autumn – when Ofgem's current price cap for households in England, Scotland and Wales expires.

From BBC

“Together, consumer adoption, enterprise deployment, developer usage and compute form a reinforcing flywheel that is translating capability into economic impact.”

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• management