— usually , adv. — usualness , n.
/yooh"zhooh euhl, yoohzh"weuhl/ , adj.
1. habitual or customary: her usual skill.
2. commonly met with or observed in experience; ordinary: the usual January weather.
3. commonplace; everyday: He says the usual things.
4. as usual , in the customary or usual manner: As usual, he forgot my birthday.
n.
5. something that is usual: He could expect only the usual.
[ 1350-1400; ME usualis, equiv. to L usu-, s. of usus use (see USE (n.)) + -alis -AL 1 ; cf. OF usuel ]
Syn. 1. accustomed. USUAL, CUSTOMARY, HABITUAL refer to a settled and constant practice. USUAL indicates something that is to be expected by reason of previous experience, which shows it to occur more often than not: There were the usual crowds at the celebration. Something that is CUSTOMARY is in accordance with prevailing usage or individual practice: It is customary to finish up with a bonfire. That which is HABITUAL has become settled or constant as the result of habit on the part of the individual: The merchants wore habitual smiles throughout the season. 2. general, prevailing, prevalent, familiar, regular. 3. expected, predictable.