use

Apply for purpose

The two parts of speech that use represents—noun and verb—are usually distinguished by pronunciation, with the s getting an /s/ sound in the noun, a /z/ sound in the verb.

The common phrase used to, however, usually has the /s/ sound.

Whether noun or verb, use involves the application of attention or effort toward some object or person to achieve something.

As a noun use is generally neutral in meaning but a verb there can be negative connotations when the object is a person: They were just using me to get to the Senator.

purpose

intention

Planned purpose for acting

aimPurpose or direction
goalDesired end result
objectivePurpose or goal

reason · function · point · application · end · rationale · motivation · design · plan · target

usability

functionality

Practical operational capacity

ergonomicsStudy of work efficiency
accessibilityEase of approach
intuitivenessNatural ease of understanding

interface · navigation · ease · convenience · practicality · simplicity · learnability · efficiency · design · interaction

consumption

expenditure

Money paid out

depletionReduction of supply
intakeAmount received or consumed
demandForceful request or requirement

supply · rationing · allocation · waste · conservation · dosage · portion · burn rate · throughput

practice

habit

Settled regular tendency

customHabitual group practice
routineRegular sequence of actions
exerciseActivity for fitness

method · procedure · tradition · convention · application · operation · execution · implementation · technique · approach

exploitation

manipulation

Underhanded control of others

depletionReduction of supply
oppressionUnjust exercise of power
traffickingIllegal transport for profit

profiteering · plundering · poaching · overfishing · sweatshops · enslavement · subjugation · taking advantage · commodification · extraction

Categories

verbsjump, be, speak, wait, do
long vowel wordslong a, long e, long i, long o, long u
regular verbswalk, walked, talk, talked, play
Short Wordsact, a, add, I, bat
useutilize, employ, apply, utility, consume
long U wordscube, cute, mute, tube, tune

Opposites

employment/application

Cessation of practice

neglect · nonuse · ignore · abandon · abstain

utility/value

Lack of practical value

worthlessness · inutility · futility · pointlessness · superfluousness

consumption/preservation

Protect from loss

conserve · preserve · hoard · stockpile · store

Phrases

used toPast habitual action
used to bePast state phrase
use upConsume until gone
used carPreviously owned automobile
no useWithout purpose or benefit
used upEntirely consumed or expended

Family

used, useful, abuse, useless, unused, user, uses, misuse, reuse

Familiarity: Top 500
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G