- of the most normal, frequent, or regular type; customary: that's the usual sort of application to send
- ordinary or commonplace events (esp in the phrase out of the usual)
- the usual ⇒ informal the habitual or usual drink, meal, etc
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
u•su•al /ˈyuʒuəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [countable;
usually: the + ~]
u•su•al•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- expected to be found or to be present:accomplished the job with her usual skill.[It + be + ~ (for + object) + to + verb]It's not usual (for him) to be so late.
- commonly met with or observed;
ordinary:the usual cold winter weather. - commonplace;
everyday:all the usual things of life.
n. [countable;
usually: the + ~]
- something that is usual:He'll have his usual to drink.
- Idioms as usual, in the customary or habitual way:He was late, as usual.
u•su•al•ly, adv.
u•su•al
(yo̅o̅′zho̅o̅ əl, yo̅o̅zh′wəl),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
u′su•al•ly, adv.
u′su•al•ness, n.
- habitual or customary:her usual skill.
- commonly met with or observed in experience;
ordinary:the usual January weather. - commonplace;
everyday:He says the usual things. - as usual, in the customary or usual manner:As usual, he forgot my birthday.
n.
- something that is usual:He could expect only the usual.
- Late Latin ūsuālis, equivalent. to Latin ūsu-, stem of ūsus use (see use (noun, nominal)) + -ālis -al1; compare Old French usuel
- Middle English 1350–1400
u′su•al•ness, n.
- 1. accustomed. Usual, customary, habitual refer to a settled and constant practice. Usual indicates something that is to be expected by reason of previous experience, which shows it to occur more often than not:There were the usual crowds at the celebration.Something that is customary is in accordance with prevailing usage or individual practice:It is customary to finish up with a bonfire.That which is habitual has become settled or constant as the result of habit on the part of the individual:The merchants wore habitual smiles throughout the season. 2. general, prevailing, prevalent, familiar, regular. 3. expected, predictable.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
usual /ˈjuːʒʊəl/ adj