- used to
- used to1 [ `just tu ] modal verb ***Used to is usually followed by an infinitive:We used to swim in the river. But sometimes the following infinitive is left out:I don't play golf now, but I used to.Used to only exists as a past tense.Questions and negatives are usually formed with did + use to (with no d ):Did you use to work here?We didn't use to earn much. The spelling did used to is sometimes used, but many people think that this is wrong.In formal English, negatives are often formed with used not to:They used not to allow stores to be open on Sundays. The short forms usen't to and usedn't to are sometimes used, but they sound rather formal and old-fashioned.used for saying what was true or what happened regularly in the past, especially when you want to emphasize that this is not true or does not happen now:I used to enjoy gardening, but I don't have time for it now.They always used to call me and say what they were doing.Where did you use to live before you moved here?I didn't use to like him, but now we're good friends.Customers didn't use to want to shop from home.There used not to be so much violence.used toused to 2 [ `just tu ] adjective never before noun ***familiar with something because you have often experienced it before, so it no longer seems difficult or strange:be used to (doing) something: Deborah was used to working on difficult assignments.I'm tired I'm not used to these late nights.It's completely different from what people are used to.get used to (doing) something: I haven't gotten used to the new system yet.It took weeks to get used to having someone else around.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.