1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Usual is used to describe what happens or what is done most often in a particular situation. □ It is a neighborhood beset by all the usual inner-city problems. □ She's smiling her usual friendly smile. □ After lunch there was a little more clearing up to do than usual. □ It is usual to tip waiters, porters, guides and drivers. ● N‑SING Usual is also a noun. □ The barman appeared to take their order. 'Good morning, sir. The usual?'
2 PHRASE You use as usual to indicate that you are describing something that normally happens or that is normally the case. □ As usual there will be the local and regional elections on June the twelfth. □ The front pages are, as usual, a mixture of domestic and foreign news.
3 PHRASE If something happens as usual , it happens in the way that it normally does, especially when other things have changed. □ When somebody died everything went on as usual, as if it had never happened.
4 business as usual → see business
usu|al|ly ◆◆◇ /juː ʒuəli/
1 ADV [ADV before v] If something usually happens, it is the thing that most often happens in a particular situation. □ The best information about hotels usually comes from friends who have been there. □ They ate, as they usually did, in the kitchen. □ Usually, the work is boring. □ Offering only one loan, usually an installment loan, is part of the plan.
2 PHRASE You use more than usually to show that something shows even more of a particular quality than it normally does. □ She felt more than usually hungry after her excursion. □ He was more than usually depressed by problems at work. SYNONYMS usually ADV 1
normally: Social progress is normally a matter of struggles and conflicts.
generally: I generally say and feel too much about these issues.
commonly: Parsley is probably the most commonly used of all herbs.
usurp /juːzɜː r p/ (usurps , usurping , usurped ) VERB If you say that someone usurps a job, role, title, or position, they take it from someone when they have no right to do this. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Did she usurp his place in his mother's heart?
usurp|er /juːzɜː r pə r / (usurpers ) N‑COUNT A usurper is someone who takes another person's title or position when they have no right to. [FORMAL ]
usu|ry /juː ʒəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Usury is the practice of lending money at a high rate of interest. [DISAPPROVAL ]
ute /juː t/ (utes ) N‑COUNT A ute is a vehicle that is designed to travel over rough ground. Ute is an abbreviation for 'utility vehicle'. [AUSTRALIAN , INFORMAL ]
uten|sil /juːte ns ə l/ (utensils ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Utensils are tools or objects that you use in order to help you to cook or to do other tasks in your home. □ …utensils such as bowls, steamers and frying pans.
u|ter|ine /juː təra I n, [AM ] -r I n/ ADJ Uterine means relating to the uterus of a woman or female mammal. [MEDICAL ]
uter|us /juː tərəs/ (uteruses ) N‑COUNT The uterus of a woman or female mammal is her womb. [MEDICAL ] □ …an ultrasound scan of the uterus.
uti|lise /juː t I la I z/ → see utilize
utili|tar|ian /juː t I l I teə riən/ (utilitarians )
1 ADJ Utilitarian means based on the idea that the morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people. [TECHNICAL ] □ It was James Mill who was the best publicist for utilitarian ideas on government. ● N‑COUNT A utilitarian is someone with utilitarian views. □ One of the greatest utilitarians was Claude Helvetius.
2 ADJ Utilitarian objects and buildings are designed to be useful rather than attractive. □ Bruce's office is a corner one, utilitarian and unglamorous.
utili|tari|an|ism /juː t I l I teə riən I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Utilitarianism is the idea that the morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people. [TECHNICAL ]
util|ity /juːt I l I ti/ (utilities )
1 N‑UNCOUNT The utility of something is its usefulness. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Belief in the utility of higher education is shared by students nationwide. □ [+ of ] He inwardly questioned the utility of his work.
2 N‑COUNT A utility is an important service such as water, electricity, or gas that is provided for everyone, and that everyone pays for. □ …public utilities such as gas, electricity and phones.
uti l|ity room (utility rooms ) N‑COUNT A utility room is a room in a house which is usually connected to the kitchen and which contains things such as a washing machine, sink, and cleaning equipment.
uti l|ity ve |hi|cle (utility vehicles ) N‑COUNT A utility vehicle is a vehicle that is designed to travel over rough ground. [AUSTRALIAN ]
uti|lize /juː t I la I z/ (utilizes , utilizing , utilized ) in BRIT, also use utilise VERB If you utilize something, you use it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Sound engineers utilize a range of techniques to enhance the quality of the recordings. □ [be V -ed] Minerals can be absorbed and utilized by the body in a variety of different forms. ● uti|li|za|tion /juː t I la I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft n N ] □ [+ of ] …the utilisation of human resources.
ut|most /ʌ tmoʊst/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use utmost to emphasize the importance or seriousness of something or to emphasize the way that it is done. [EMPHASIS ] □ It is a matter of the utmost urgency to find out what has happened to these people. □ Security matters are treated with the utmost seriousness. □ You should proceed with the utmost caution.