used

Used is an English term with several related meanings. As an adjective, it describes items that have had a previous owner rather than being new. It is commonly applied to consumer goods such as cars, electronics, furniture, and clothing. The description signals that the item is not factory-new and may vary in age, wear, and functionality. Used goods markets exist in most economies and are supported by sellers who categorize items by condition, often using labels such as 'like new,' 'good,' or 'fair.'

As a past participle of the verb use, used appears in many tense and aspect constructions. It marks completed actions, as in 'I used the tool yesterday,' and forms perfect tenses such as 'have used.' The phrase 'used to' expresses a past habit or state that no longer applies, as in 'I used to live there.' The expression 'be used to' means to be accustomed to something, as in 'I am used to this routine.' These forms show the word's role both in describing objects and in grammatical constructions.

Origin and related terms: the verb use comes from Old French user and Latin uti; the past participle formed with the standard English -ed suffix. The sense of 'used' as describing second-hand goods broadened with modern commerce to cover items that have circulated in the market rather than being new.

See also: second-hand, pre-owned, refurbished, used car, used bookstore.