usó
“usó” means “used” in Spanish (He/She/It/You (formal) used).
used
Also: made use of
📝 In Action
Ella usó todo el dinero para comprar el regalo.
A1She used all the money to buy the gift.
Mi jefe usó un software nuevo para la presentación.
A2My boss used new software for the presentation.
Usted usó su influencia para conseguir el trato.
B1You (formal) used your influence to get the deal.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: usó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'usó'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *ūsāre*, which meant 'to make use of' or 'to employ.' It has remained virtually unchanged in meaning through centuries of Spanish.
First recorded: c. 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'usó' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is necessary to indicate that this is the simple past tense (preterite) form. It distinguishes it from the present tense ('uso' = I use) and ensures it is pronounced correctly with stress on the last syllable: oo-SOH.
Can 'usó' be used for something that happened repeatedly in the past?
No. 'Usó' refers to a single, completed action (e.g., 'He used the phone once'). For repeated or habitual actions in the past (e.g., 'She used to use the phone every day'), you should use the imperfect tense, 'usaba'.