out of use

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of use" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that something is no longer being used or is not functioning. For example, "The old technology has been out of use for many years now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He's instructed all of Countdown's audience to wipe it out of use completely.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"No Trespassing" labels represented the evil of property held out of use.

The Washington Post

It seems to be an out of use stereotype.

Huffington Post

Possibly the trackway was put out of use by Nero's abortive canal works in 67 CE.

Wikipedia

Out of use.

Yale University

It now seems to be out of use.

The Guardian

A lot of words have fallen out of use".

The Guardian

Will speak though tongues were out of use.

Princeton University

Every year, 450 miles of railroad fall out of use.

The New York Times

WHEN churches fall out of use, what happens to them?

The Economist

Beauty is almost out of use, largely confined to babies, women and clothes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing equipment or facilities, use "out of use" to clearly indicate they are not currently functioning or available. For example, "The swimming pool is currently "out of use" due to maintenance."

Common error

Avoid using "out of use" when you simply mean something is "unused". "Out of use" implies something was once used but is now non-functional or unavailable, while "unused" simply means it hasn't been used yet or is not regularly used.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of use" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it is not currently being utilized or is non-operational. It's a common way to describe the status of equipment, facilities, or resources, as evidenced by numerous examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "out of use" is a common and grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to describe something that is not currently being used or is non-operational. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Its frequency is high, appearing most often in news and media, as well as academic and wiki contexts. When using the phrase "out of use", it's important to differentiate it from "unused", as the former implies a previous state of functionality. Alternative phrases include "not in service" or "inoperative". Overall, "out of use" is a versatile and widely understood phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not functioning

Directly states the lack of proper function.

not in service

Replaces "use" with "service", emphasizing the operational aspect.

no longer in operation

Emphasizes the cessation of operational activity.

disused

Simple term to indicate that something is not used anymore.

inoperative

A more formal term indicating a lack of functionality.

non-operational

A technical term indicating a lack of operational capability.

defunct

Implies something is no longer in existence or operation.

inactive

Suggests a temporary or permanent cessation of activity.

unserviceable

Highlights the condition of something that cannot be used.

retired from service

Specifically indicates something has been formally removed from service.

FAQs

How can I use "out of use" in a sentence?

You can use "out of use" to describe something that is not currently functioning or available. For example, "The elevator is currently "out of use" for repairs."

What's the difference between "out of order" and "out of use"?

"Out of order" typically implies a temporary malfunction, while "out of use" can indicate a longer-term unavailability due to various reasons, including disrepair, renovation, or obsolescence.

What are some alternatives to saying "out of use"?

Alternatives include "not in service", "inoperative", or "defunct", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is "temporarily out of use"?

Yes, saying something is "temporarily out of use" is perfectly acceptable and indicates that the item or facility is expected to be available again in the future. For example, "The meeting room is temporarily "out of use" due to renovations."