[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":188},["ShallowReactive",2],{"w-use":3},{"word":4,"pos":5,"definition":6,"senses":7,"antonyms":168,"tip":177,"faq":178},"use","verb, noun","to employ something for a purpose or to make practical or effective use of it.",[8,59,99,139],{"label":9,"pos":10,"gloss":11,"synonyms":12},"employ or apply","verb","employ something for a purpose",[13,22,27,32,38,43,48,53],{"w":14,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":17,"nuance":20,"example":21},"employ",3,4,[18,19],"academic","business","more formal; stresses purposeful application","Researchers employ statistical models to test the hypothesis.",{"w":23,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":24,"nuance":25,"example":26},"apply",[18,19],"focuses on putting something into operation","We apply the new method to large data sets.",{"w":28,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":29,"nuance":30,"example":31},"utilize",[18,19],"formal; often suggests efficient or planned use","The program utilizes existing resources more efficiently.",{"w":33,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":34,"nuance":36,"example":37},"make use of",[18,19,35],"casual","neutral phrase; slightly more explicit than use","You can make use of the library's study rooms.",{"w":39,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":40,"nuance":41,"example":42},"take advantage of",[18,19,35],"means exploit an opportunity or resource","We should take advantage of the early train.",{"w":44,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":45,"nuance":46,"example":47},"exercise",[18,19],"used for rights, authority, or restraint","The board may exercise its authority to delay the vote.",{"w":49,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":50,"nuance":51,"example":52},"deploy",[18,19],"systematic or strategic use, especially of resources","The company will deploy extra staff during the holiday rush.",{"w":54,"intensity":16,"formality":15,"contexts":55,"nuance":57,"example":58},"wield",[56,18],"creative","suggests powerful, often figurative use","The speaker wielded humor to defuse the tension.",{"label":60,"pos":10,"gloss":61,"synonyms":62},"consume or spend","consume, spend, or exhaust something",[63,68,73,79,84,89,94],{"w":64,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":65,"nuance":66,"example":67},"consume",[18,19],"formal; uses something up by using it","The machine consumes a lot of electricity.",{"w":69,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":70,"nuance":71,"example":72},"spend",[19,35],"for money, time, or effort","I spent most of the afternoon on repairs.",{"w":74,"intensity":15,"formality":75,"contexts":76,"nuance":77,"example":78},"consume up",2,[35],"informal; means use completely","We consumed up all the printer paper.",{"w":80,"intensity":16,"formality":15,"contexts":81,"nuance":82,"example":83},"drain",[19,35],"suggests heavy or harmful depletion","The project drained the team's time and energy.",{"w":85,"intensity":16,"formality":16,"contexts":86,"nuance":87,"example":88},"deplete",[18,19],"formal; gradually reduce a supply","Overfishing depletes marine populations.",{"w":90,"intensity":16,"formality":16,"contexts":91,"nuance":92,"example":93},"exhaust",[18,19],"use up completely","The long season exhausted the club's budget.",{"w":95,"intensity":16,"formality":75,"contexts":96,"nuance":97,"example":98},"burn through",[35,19],"informal; spend or use quickly","He burned through his savings in a few months.",{"label":100,"pos":101,"gloss":102,"synonyms":103},"service or benefit","noun","the state of being useful or serving a purpose",[104,109,114,119,124,129,134],{"w":105,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":106,"nuance":107,"example":108},"utility",[18,19],"formal; practical usefulness or value","The utility of the survey depends on honest answers.",{"w":110,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":111,"nuance":112,"example":113},"function",[18,19],"emphasizes the role something performs","The main function of the app is scheduling.",{"w":115,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":116,"nuance":117,"example":118},"purpose",[18,19,35],"focuses on intended aim or reason","This tool has a very specific purpose.",{"w":120,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":121,"nuance":122,"example":123},"benefit",[18,19,35],"emphasizes a helpful result","One benefit of walking is lower stress.",{"w":125,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":126,"nuance":127,"example":128},"advantage",[18,19,35],"a favorable quality or edge","Speed is a major advantage of the new system.",{"w":130,"intensity":75,"formality":75,"contexts":131,"nuance":132,"example":133},"good",[35],"very general; less precise than use","The old phone still has some good left in it.",{"w":135,"intensity":75,"formality":75,"contexts":136,"nuance":137,"example":138},"help",[35,19],"broader and milder; stresses assistance","The guide can be a real help during training.",{"label":140,"pos":101,"gloss":141,"synonyms":142},"customary use","the act or manner of using something",[143,148,153,158,163],{"w":144,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":145,"nuance":146,"example":147},"usage",[18,19],"formal; customary or accepted use","Word usage varies by region and social group.",{"w":149,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":150,"nuance":151,"example":152},"application",[18,19],"how something is put to use","The application of the rule was inconsistent.",{"w":154,"intensity":15,"formality":16,"contexts":155,"nuance":156,"example":157},"employment",[18,19],"formal noun for use or putting into service","The employment of new tools improved safety.",{"w":159,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":160,"nuance":161,"example":162},"practice",[18,19,35],"habitual or regular way of doing something","Regular practice of the technique builds accuracy.",{"w":164,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":165,"nuance":166,"example":167},"usefulness",[18,19,35],"quality of being useful","The usefulness of the map depends on scale.",[169,170,171,172,173,174,175,176],"disuse","neglect","abandon","misuse","waste","idle","damage","destroy","Choose the synonym that matches both purpose and register: formal writing often prefers employ, apply, utilize, or usage, while everyday prose usually sounds better with use, make use of, or spend. Avoid over-formal choices like utilize when a simple use is clearer, and pick stronger words like exhaust or deplete only when the sense is real depletion.",[179,182,185],{"q":180,"a":181},"What is the most formal or academic synonym for use?","In academic and business writing, employ, apply, utilize, and usage are common formal alternatives, depending on whether you mean the verb, the act of using, or customary language. Utilize can sound heavy if a plain use would do.",{"q":183,"a":184},"What is a stronger or milder alternative to use?","For a stronger sense, exhaust, deplete, or burn through suggest using something up or damaging it. For a milder, more general alternative, make use of or benefit are often softer and more descriptive.",{"q":186,"a":187},"When should I use make use of instead of use?","Make use of is a bit more explicit and sometimes slightly more emphatic than use. It works well when you want to highlight that something is being put to practical use, especially in writing that benefits from a fuller phrase.",1790472037876]