user

UK: /ˈjuːzə^r/ US: (yo̅o̅′zər; Law o̅o̅′zər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

us•er¹  (yo̅o̅′zər), n. 

1. a person or thing that uses.
2. Drugs one who uses drugs, esp. as an abuser or addict.
3. Computing a person who uses a computer.

• 1350–1400; Middle English usere; see use, -er¹

us•er²  (o̅o̅′zər), n. [Law.]

1. Law the exercise of a right to the enjoyment of property.

• noun, nominal use of Anglo-French user to use

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

user / ˈjuːzə/ noun

1. the continued exercise, use, or enjoyment of a right, esp in property
2. a presumptive right based on long-continued use: right of user
3. (often in combination) a person or thing that uses: a road-user
4. a drug addict

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

use /v. yuz or, for pt. form of 9, yust; n. yus/    v., used, us•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to employ for some purpose:
   [~ + object] to use a knife to cut the meat.
2. to apply (something) to one's own purposes:
   [~ + object] to use the bathroom.
3. to consume, expend, or exhaust: [~ (+ up) + object]
   We've used (up) the money.
   [~ + object + (up)]
   We've used the money (up).
4. to treat or behave toward:
   [~ + object] He used his employees well.
5. to take unfair advantage of;
   exploit:
   [~ + object] was just using him for his money and social contacts.
6. to consume or take habitually:
   [~ + object] to use drugs.
7. to be customarily found doing (expresses habitual or customary actions in the past):
   [past tense of use + to + verb] He used to go to school every day.

n. 

8. [uncountable] the act of using or the state of being used.
9. an instance or way of using something:
   [countable] a painter's use of color.
10. a way of being used;
    a purpose for which something is used:
    [countable] Describe some of the uses of a wrench.
11. the power, right, or privilege of using something:
    [uncountable] to lose the use of an eye.
12. utility;
    usefulness:
    [uncountable] of no practical use.
13. help;
    profit;
    resulting good;
    advantage:
    [uncountable] What's the use of complaining?
14. need:
    [uncountable] Have you any use for another calendar?

Idioms

15. Idioms have no use for, [have no + ~ + for + object]
    • to have no need for.
    • to feel intolerant of:
      to have no use for petty thieves.
16. in use, being used:
    The laboratory is in use.
17. Idioms make use of, [~ + object] to use, esp. effectively;
    employ:
    He makes use of his purchases.
18. Idioms put to use, [put + object + to + ~] to find a function for;
    utilize:
    He puts his computer to good use.

us•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

use  (v. yo̅o̅z or, for pt. form of 9, yo̅o̅st;n. yo̅o̅s), v., used, us•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to employ for some purpose;
   put into service;
   make use of:
   to use a knife.
2. to avail oneself of;
   apply to one's own purposes:
   to use the facilities.
3. to expend or consume in use:
   We have used the money provided.
4. to treat or behave toward:
   He did not use his employees with much
   consideration.
5. to take unfair advantage of;
   exploit:
   to use people to gain one's own ends.
6. to drink, smoke, or ingest habitually:
   to use drugs.
7. to habituate or accustom.
8. [Archaic.] to practice habitually or customarily;
   make a practice of.

v.i. 
9. to be accustomed, wont, or customarily found (used with an infinitive expressed or understood, and, except in archaic use, now only in the past):
   He used to go every day.
10. [Archaic.] to resort, stay, or dwell customarily.
11. use up:
    • to consume entirely.
    • to exhaust of vigor or usefulness;
      finish:
      By the end of the war he felt used up and sick of life.

n. 
12. the act of employing, using, or putting into service:
    the use of tools.
13. the state of being employed or used.
14. an instance or way of employing or using something:
    proper use of the tool; the painter's use of color.
15. a way of being employed or used;
    a purpose for which something is used:
    He was of temporary use. The instrument has different uses.
16. the power, right, or privilege of employing or using something:
    to lose the use of the right eye; to be denied the use of a library card.
17. service or advantage in or for being employed or used;
    utility or usefulness:
    of no practical use.
18. help;
    profit;
    resulting good:
    What's the use of pursuing the matter?
19. occasion or need, as for something to be employed or used:
    Would you have any use for another calendar?
20. continued, habitual, or customary employment or practice;
    custom:
    to follow the prevailing use of such occasions.
21. Law
    • the enjoyment of property, as by the employment, occupation, or exercise of it.
    • the benefit or profit of lands and tenements in the possession of another who simply holds them for the beneficiary.
    • the equitable ownership of land to which the legal title is in another's name.
22. [Liturgy.] the distinctive form of ritual or of any liturgical observance used in a particular church, diocese, community, etc.
23. usual or customary experience.
24. have no use for:
    • to have no occasion or need for:
      She appears to have no use for the city.
    • to refuse to tolerate;
      discount:
      He had no use for his brother.
    • to have a distaste for;
      dislike:
      He has no use for dictators.
25. make use of, to use for one's own purposes;
    employ:
    Charitable organizations will make use of your old furniture and clothing.
26. of no use, of no advantage or help:
    It's of no use to look for that missing earring. It's no use asking her to go.
    Also, no use. 
27. put to use, to apply;
    employ to advantage:
    What a shame that no one has put that old deserted mansion to use!
• Latin ūsus act of using a thing, application, employment, equivalent. to ūt-, stem of ūtī to use + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action, with tt s
• Old French
• Latin ūsus, past participle of ūtī to use; (noun, nominal) Middle English
• Old French user
• (verb, verbal) Middle English usen 1175–1225
Synonyms
• 1. Use, utilize mean to make something serve one's purpose.
  Use is the general word:
  to use a telephone; to use a saw and other tools; to use one's eyes; to use eggs in cooking.
  (What is used often has depreciated or been diminished, sometimes completely consumed:
  a used automobile; All the butter has been used.
  ) As applied to persons,
  use implies some selfish or sinister purpose:
  to use another to advance oneself.
  Utilize implies practical or profitable use:
  to utilize the means at hand, a modern system of lighting.
• 3. exhaust, waste.
• 7. familiarize, inure.
• 13. employment, utilization, application, exercise.
• 14. handling.
Usage
See usage.