unused

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unused" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has not been utilized or employed in any way. Example: "The unused resources in the project budget could be allocated to other departments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We've now got tangible figures of the quantities and locations of fossil fuels that should remain unused in trying to keep within the 2C temperature limit," said Christophe McGlade, at University College London (UCL), and who led the new research published in the journal Nature.

The Guardian

Nuno believes Spanish players are unused to that style and its rarity in Spain can thus make its impact even greater.

The Guardian - Sport

Most of these skills remain unused, although my friend Rodney had a chance to test them when he was cast as a black servant in an end-of-term production of The Little Foxes.

The Guardian

Does investing in research into renewable energy that then sits unused in a closed archive meet this condition?

The Guardian

At the start of the organic revolution, as the government gave unused city land to anyone who wanted to cultivate it, many first-generation city dwellers remembered their country childhood.

The Guardian

The director, on buoyant form in his press conference at the Cannes film festival, said he has 90 minutes of unused footage from the film, which he plans to edit into a mini-series of four one-hour chapters.

The Guardian - Film

In major coal producing nations like the US, Australia and Russia, more than 90% of coal reserves are unused in meeting the 2C pledge.

The Guardian

On Wednesday, activist shareholders at Chevron, led by campaign group As You Sow, will attend the company's annual meeting in San Ramon, California, inviting fellow investors to vote in favour of a resolution they have filed calling for Chevron to slash its upstream capital spending and to return the unused cash to shareholders.

The Guardian

In New York, the entire winter has been filled with weather advisories, along with freezing rain, decreased blood circulation, sleet, swipes right, unused gym memberships, compromised public transportation infrastructure, depression, lassitude, lonely gloves, too much binge-watching, opportunistic slush of a certain sentience and the first 2,000 words of novels in various states of abandonment.

The Guardian - Opinion

A line of unused chairs rests in the assessment area, but all patients are treated on camp beds or blue mattresses.

The Guardian

In the US, Australia and Russia, more than 90% of coal reserves must be unused, and in China and India, two-thirds of coal reserves are not to be burned in the scenario.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing resources or opportunities, use "unused" to highlight potential for future application or development. For example, "The company has significant unused capacity for innovation."

Common error

Avoid using "unuse" as a verb; it's not standard English. Instead, use "not use" or "leave unused" to express the action of not utilizing something.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "unused" is to serve as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a state of not being utilized. Ludwig AI confirms that the word follows standard grammar rules and is used in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "unused" is a versatile and commonly used term to describe something that is not currently being utilized. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread acceptance. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, business, and general discussions. When writing, be sure to use "unused" instead of the non-standard "unuse". The word helps emphasize the potential of resources that are available but not yet in service. Related terms include "untapped", "idle", and "dormant". The most authoritative sources that employ the term "unused" are The Guardian and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not utilized

Replaces "unused" with a more formal synonym, focusing on the lack of utilization.

Untapped

Emphasizes the potential that remains unrealized or unexploited.

Unexploited

Similar to "untapped", stressing the lack of active use or development.

Idle

Suggests inactivity and a lack of purpose or function.

Dormant

Implies a state of inactivity, often with the potential for future use.

Unoccupied

Indicates that something is not currently being used or inhabited.

Spare

Refers to something available for use if needed, but not currently in service.

New

Indicates something has never been used before.

Fresh

Something recently acquired but not used.

Available

Ready to use, but not currently being used.

FAQs

How can I use "unused" in a sentence?

"Unused" is an adjective that can describe something that hasn't been used. For example, "We have a lot of "spare" equipment in the warehouse, including some "unused" computers."

What is a good synonym for "unused"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "unused" with synonyms like "untapped", "idle", or "dormant".

What's the difference between "unused" and "disused"?

"Unused" typically refers to something that has never been used or is not currently in use, whereas "disused" usually describes something that was once used but is no longer in use, implying abandonment or obsolescence.

Is it correct to say "unuse" instead of "not use"?

No, "unuse" is not a standard English verb. It's better to say "not use" or find an alternative phrasing to express the idea of something not being utilized. For example, "Please "do not use" that equipment, it is broken".