Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Accustomed to; familiar with something through experience: Describes a state of being so familiar with a condition, situation, or action that it is no longer strange, difficult, or surprising.

Usage

• The phrase "used to" functions as an adjective and is always followed by a noun or a gerund (the -ing form of a verb).
• It describes a state or condition resulting from repeated exposure or habit.
• It is commonly used in the structures: "be/get/become/grow used to + noun/gerund".

Examples

• Adjective:
  • She is used to the cold weather after living in Norway for five years.
  • I'm not used to driving on the left side of the road.
  • You will soon get used to working with the new software.

Advanced Usage

• "To be used to" vs. "Used to + base verb": It is critical to distinguish this adjectival phrase from the past habit structure "used to + base verb" (e.g., "I used to live there"). The adjectival "used to" can be used in any tense (present: ; past: ; future: ).
  • I am used to waking up early. (Adjective: I am now accustomed to it.)
  • I used to wake up early. (Past habit: I did it regularly in the past, but I no longer do.)

Variants and Related Words

• Accustomed to (adj.): Synonymous with "used to," often in more formal contexts.
  • He became accustomed to the noise of the city.
• Wont to (adj., archaic/literary): In the habit of doing something.
  • He was wont to take a long walk before breakfast.

Synonyms

• Accustomed to
• Familiar with
• Inured to (often for negative or difficult things)
• Habituated to

Related Phrases

• Get used to: The process of becoming accustomed to something.
  • It took me a month to get used to the new schedule.
• Become used to: A more formal alternative to "get used to."
  • Patients gradually become used to the treatment.

Adjective

1. in the habit
   • I am used to hitchhiking
   • you'll get used to the idea
   • ...was wont to complain that this is a cold world- Henry David Thoreau