usual

1 of 2

adjective

usu·​al ˈyü-zhə-wəl How to pronounce usual (audio)
-zhəl;
ˈyüzh-wəl
Synonyms of usualnext
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

Synonyms

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Sky noted that the prince seemed more relaxed than usual at his Earthshot Prize. —Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024 This app is by no means intended to replace your usual antivirus. —PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the CSA box. —Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024 Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, because that’s what’s usually in the C.S.A. box. —Melissa Clark, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for usual 

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

Phrases Containing usual

Dictionary Entries Near usual

usu

usual

usual covenant

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usual. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

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

Nglish: Translation of usual for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of usual for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Giving Thanks Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...