usual
YOO-zhoorl
Usual (adjective) means happening or done most of the time; typical or expected. Example: “I'll take my usual seat by the window.”
adjective
1
Happening or done most of the time; typical or expected.
"The preference of a boy to a girl is a usual occurrence in some parts of China."
"It is becoming more usual these days to rear children as bilingual."
"I'll take my usual seat by the window."
"The trains are running late again, as usual."
"He ordered his usual coffee and sat down with the newspaper."
How to use usual
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNormal, ordinary, or expected — how things typically are.
Common pairings
as usual
the usual suspects
business as usual
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Word forms
- Plural
- usuals
- Comparative
- more usual
- Superlative
- most usual
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I'll take my _____ seat by the window.
Etymology
From Old French usuel, from Latin usualis ("customary"), from usus ("use, custom").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for usual
See all rhymes for usual →Frequently asked questions
What does “usual” mean?
The word “usual” means happening or done most of the time; typical or expected. In plain terms, normal, ordinary, or expected — how things typically are.
How do you pronounce “usual”?
“Usual” is pronounced YOO-zhoorl (/ˈju.ʒuəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “usual” in a sentence?
Here is “usual” used in a sentence: “I'll take my usual seat by the window.”
What part of speech is “usual”?
“Usual” is an adjective.
Where does the word “usual” come from?
The word “usual” comes from Latin. From Old French usuel, from Latin usualis ("customary"), from usus ("use, custom").
Is “usual” a common word?
“Usual” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between usual and typical?
They overlap heavily and are often interchangeable. 'Usual' stresses frequency — what happens most of the time, like your usual coffee order. 'Typical' stresses representativeness — what is characteristic of a type, like typical British weather. Something usual is simply common for you; something typical is a true example of its kind.
What is the opposite of usual?
The opposite is 'unusual,' along with words like rare, exceptional, uncommon, and out of the ordinary. Where usual describes what happens most of the time and causes no surprise, its opposites describe what happens seldom and stands out. 'Business as usual' contrasts sharply with 'an unusual turn of events.'
How do you use usual in a sentence?
Usual describes something regular or expected, often before a noun: 'She took her usual seat,' or 'it was a usual working day.' The phrase 'as usual' means as normally happens, as in 'He was late, as usual.' It signals that nothing has changed from the customary pattern.
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