be used to — to be familiar with something because you have experienced it regularly in the past
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to be familiar with something because you have experienced it regularly in the past
Pronunciation (IPA): /bi ˈjuːzd tu/
Example Sentences
- I'm not used to eating spicy food, but my Korean friends think I'm a wimp.
- She's used to her cat waking her up at 5 AM for breakfast.
- Are you used to living alone yet?
be used to
VERB[/bi ˈjuːzd tu/]
to be familiar with something because you have experienced it regularly in the past
After ten years on night shifts, she is used to working while the city sleeps.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrase 'be used to' developed from the past participle 'used' of the verb 'use' (from Old French 'user'), combined with the auxiliary verb 'be' and the preposition 'to'. Over time, this construction grammaticalized to express habitual familiarity or accustomed states, distinct from the temporal marker 'used to' which denotes past habitual action.
Breakdown
be (auxiliary verb indicating state) + used (past participle of 'use', from Old French user meaning 'to employ') + to (preposition indicating the object of accustoming). The structure evolved to mean 'accustomed to' or 'familiar with.'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I'm not used to eating spicy food, but my Korean friends think I'm a wimp.”
“She's used to her cat waking her up at 5 AM for breakfast.”
“Are you used to living alone yet?”
“He's used to his wife stealing his hoodies and never giving them back.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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