usual
gb/jˈuʒuəl/ us/jˈuʒuəl/
A2
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Happening most of the time
Happening most of the time; normal for a person or situation.
Usage pattern:
the usual [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'usual' with 'useful' due to similar spelling, but they have very different meanings.
Synonyms
normal (Very close in meaning; often interchangeable, but 'normal' can imply healthy or standard, while 'usual' simply means common or typical.)
|
typical (Suggests representative of a kind, often neutral, but can imply a stereotype.)
Antonyms
unusual (Direct opposite; describes something rare or not common.)
|
exceptional (Implies something that is not typical, often in a positive way.)
Collocations
the usual routine
|as usual
|usual place
|usual time
|usual way
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- We met at our usual café for lunch.
- He arrived at the usual time, right on schedule.
- As usual, she had her coffee before starting work.
- The meeting followed the usual format.
- It was just another day at the usual office.
Learner examples
- I walk the usual way to school.
- She comes here at the usual time.
- We eat dinner at our usual place.
- He takes his usual bus to work.
Grammar
Expressions
the usual
1/ðə jˈuʒuəl/
fixed phrase
informal
Someone's regular choice
The thing you usually order, buy, or do.
Examples
- I'll have the usual, please.
- She ordered the usual from the menu.
as usual
1/ˈæz jˈuʒuəl/
fixed phrase
In the normal or expected way
Happening the same way it normally does.
Examples
- As usual, he was the first to arrive at the meeting.
- As usual, he was late for the meeting.
- The train was late, as usual.
- The train was crowded, as usual.