noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

abuse

uh-BYOOS

Abuse (noun) means cruel or violent treatment of a person, often repeated. Example: “The charity supports survivors of domestic abuse.”

noun

Cruel or violent treatment of a person, often repeated.

"The charity supports survivors of domestic abuse."

"Reports of abuse at the facility triggered an investigation."

The wrong or harmful use of something, such as power, drugs, or a position of trust.

"The senator was accused of abuse of power."

verb

To treat someone cruelly or violently.

"He was accused of abusing his position to intimidate staff."

"It is illegal to abuse a child in any way."

To use something improperly or excessively, especially drugs or alcohol.

"She began to abuse painkillers after her surgery."

How to Use Abuse

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHarmful or improper treatment of a person, or the wrongful use of something like power or drugs.

Common pairings

domestic abuse substance abuse abuse of power verbal abuse

Word Forms

abused past tense, abuses plural, abuses singular

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The charity supports survivors of domestic _____.

Etymology

From Latin abusus, "misused," from ab- ("away") plus uti ("to use") — literally a "using away" or using something up wrongly.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for abuse

use muse ruse fuse CuSe mouse cause house louse pause amuse douse

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “abuse” mean?

The word “abuse” means cruel or violent treatment of a person, often repeated. In plain terms, harmful or improper treatment of a person, or the wrongful use of something like power or drugs.

How do you pronounce “abuse”?

“Abuse” is pronounced uh-BYOOS (/əˈbjus/ in IPA).

How do you use “abuse” in a sentence?

Here is “abuse” used in a sentence: “The charity supports survivors of domestic abuse.”

What part of speech is “abuse”?

Depending on how it is used, “abuse” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “abuse” come from?

The word “abuse” comes from Latin. From Latin abusus, "misused," from ab- ("away") plus uti ("to use") — literally a "using away" or using something up wrongly.

Is “abuse” a common word?

“Abuse” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “abuse” have?

“Abuse” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: cruel or violent treatment of a person, often repeated.

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Words With Latin Origins