How to pronounce use
Say it like YOOS. Use is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce use. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YOOS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Use pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YOOSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of use
American and British speakers say use in essentially the same way: /jus/ in the US and /juːs/ in the UK.
British respelling: YOOS.
What does use mean?
- the act of using“he warned against the use of narcotic drugs”“skilled in the utilization of computers”
- what something is used for“the function of an auger is to bore holes”“ballet is beautiful but what use is it?”
- a particular service“he put his knowledge to good use”“patrons have their uses”
- put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose“use your head!”“we only use Spanish at home”
- take or consume (regularly or habitually)“She uses drugs rarely”
- use up, consume fully“The legislature expended its time on school questions”
Where does use come from?
Inherited from Middle English use, from Old French us, from Latin ūsus (“use, custom, skill, habit”), from past participle stem of ūtor (“use”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- utilization
- utilisation
- employment
- exercise
Words that rhyme with use
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of use.
Questions about saying use
How do you pronounce use?
Say YOOS. The American pronunciation is /jus/. In British English it is /juːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in use?
Use is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: YOOS.
Do Americans and Brits say use the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /jus/ and the British form is /juːs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.