the amount of something that is used, or the act of using it
Daily smartphone usage has increased among teenagers.
Please limit your water usage during the drought.
✦ Same origin as sense 1: Middle French ‘usage’.
the way words and grammar are commonly used in a language
The professor explained modern English usage to the class.
Incorrect comma usage can make sentences confusing.
✦ From Middle French ‘usage’, from Old French ‘us’ (“use”) + ‘-age’ (noun suffix).
a customary practice or established social custom, especially one that has existed for a long time
According to local usage, guests remove their shoes at the door.
Ancient legal usages still influence modern contracts.
✦ Evolved from the broader sense of ‘use’ to mean an established custom by the early 15th century.
