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unused

/ʌnˈjuːzd/
adjective★Intermediate💡 not used
general

Not having been used; not put to practical use.

The unused ticket was thrown away.

The ticket existed but was never used.

He kept an unused room in his house.

The room existed but was not utilized.

formal

Not accustomed to something; unfamiliar.

She was unused to the cold climate.

She was not familiar with or adapted to the cold.

Collocations

unused tonot accustomed tounused ticketa ticket that has not been usedunused spacea space that is not being utilized

Synonyms

unutilizedidleinactiveleftoverspare

Antonyms

usedutilizedactiveoccupied

💡Pro Tip

Avoid confusion with 'unuse'

'Unuse' is a rare verb meaning 'to render something useless' (e.g., 'The chemicals unuse the fabric.'). 'Unused' is the correct adjective form in most contexts.

⚡Gold Rule

Position in sentences

'Unused' typically comes before the noun it modifies (e.g., 'unused ticket') or after a linking verb (e.g., 'The ticket is unused.').

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'un-', a prefix meaning 'not', combined with 'used', the past participle of 'use' (from Old French 'user', from Latin 'ūsus', meaning 'use'). First attested in the 15th century.

📝Usage Notes

Commonly used to describe objects, spaces, or states that exist but are not currently being utilized. Less commonly used to describe people unfamiliar with a situation (e.g., 'unused to the heat').

Word Breakdown

un-
not
prefix
+
used
past participle of 'use'
root
English Dictionary

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