usual

1 of 2

adjective

usu·​al ˈyü-zhə-wəl How to pronounce usual (audio)
-zhəl;
ˈyüzh-wəl
1
: accordant with usage, custom, or habit : normal
2
: commonly or ordinarily used
followed his usual route
3
: found in ordinary practice or in the ordinary course of events : ordinary
usualness
ˈyü-zhə-wəl-nəs How to pronounce usual (audio)
-zhəl-;
ˈyüzh-wəl-
noun

usual

2 of 2

noun

: something usual
Phrases
as usual
: in the accustomed or habitual way
as usual they were late
Choose the Right Synonym for usual

usual, customary, habitual, wonted, accustomed mean familiar through frequent or regular repetition.

usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

Examples of usual in a Sentence

Adjective She charges less than the usual fee. He took his usual route to work. the usual method for preparing chili She is not my usual doctor. It's usual to charge a fee for delivery. It's not usual for him to get home so late.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But, this year, what happens in the rest of the world seems to matter a bit more than usual to Americans. Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2024 Friday night’s game carried more significance than usual with the Clippers and Pelicans trending toward a first-round playoff showdown. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 While Mulier’s unconventional details add a touch of eccentricity to Kaia Gerber’s usual minimalist aesthetic, the overall sleekness of the designs resonates well with her personal style. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 See Kate Middleton's Best St. Patrick's Day Looks Through the Years Princess Kate's usual role of issuing the shamrocks for the guards to pin on their uniforms will be carried out by Lady Ghika, wife of the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, Major General Sir Christopher Ghika. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 Currently there is a bit more inventory coming on the market, as is usual during the peak spring homebuying season. Anna Bahney, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 The meets have been going on in smaller groups of about 30 for several years but Gebhart said social media notices about this one attracted 10 times more cars than usual. John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Mar. 2024 Data will start updating after polls close at 7:30 p.m., but results from ballots cast during early voting will be reported later than usual because of a change in state law. David Raynor, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 And, with this winter's warm weather, demand for gasoline is higher because more people are traveling than usual. David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
On the first floor, in the back corner of the hotel, there also was a small cafe, a fashion-week usual for the house. Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 Someone’s pouring your usual, sending you to sleep with a bustling soundtrack, or simply offering a comforting anchor in a sprawling, occasionally overwhelming metropolis. Maggie Hennessy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2022 Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022 On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 This style runs small, so reviewers suggest ordering a size larger than your usual. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 June 2022 Dealing with long-lasting constipation, diarrhea, or poops that are different from your usual? Korin Miller, SELF, 22 Feb. 2022 Since then, my blood sugars have gone from a usual of 110 to the 140s. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 11 Feb. 2022 The brand suggests ordering a size up from your usual to ensure a perfect fit. Nicol Natale, Health.com, 27 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'usual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French usuel, from Late Latin usualis, from Latin usus use

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1589, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of usual was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near usual

Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usual. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

usual

adjective
usu·​al
ˈyüzh-(ə-)wəl,
ˈyüzh-əl
: done, found, or used in the ordinary course of events : normal, regular
less than the usual fee
the usual route to work
usually
ˈyüzh-(ə-)wə-lē
ˈyüzh-(ə-)lē
 in rapid speech  ˈyüz-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on usual

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