ree-YOOS
/ɹiˈjus/
reuse is pronounced ree-YOOS (/ɹiˈjus/). Reuse is a verb or noun meaning to use something again or to recycle material. In pronunciation terms, it often functions as re-use (noun) or /riˈjuːs/ (verb in US/UK: /riˈjuːz/ when present as two syllables with re- prefix). The core idea is repetition of use, extending the utility of an item or idea. The term spans formal and everyday contexts, from policy discussions to casual conversations.
Reuse is a verb or noun meaning to use something again or to recycle material. In pronunciation terms, it often functions as re-use (noun) or /riˈjuːs/ (verb in US/UK: /riˈjuːz/ when present as two syllables with re- prefix). The core idea is repetition of use, extending the utility of an item or idea. The term spans formal and everyday contexts, from policy discussions to casual conversations.
- You sometimes emphasize the first syllable by default; focus on the second syllable for the verb form (ri-USE). - The /juː/ glide can blur into a plain /uː/ if you don’t raise the tongue and jaw properly; ensure a clear palatal glide from /j/ to /uː/. - Final consonant voicing: distinguish /s/ vs /z/ in connected speech; practice listening to voicing with minimal pairs.
"We plan to reuse the glass jars for storage."
"The city has a program to reuse surplus materials."
"Please reuse the water bottle tomorrow to reduce waste."
You pronounce reuse as ri-ˈjuːs for the verb (stress on the second syllable) in most US contexts: /riˈjuːz/ with a final z sound; for the noun form re-use, it’s usually /ˈriːjuːs/ or /ˈriːjuːz/ depending on style. In rapid speech, the sequence may compress to /riˈjuːz/. Mouth: start with the r- with a raised tongue blade, then the /i/ as in cheap, glide into /juː/ with the tongue high and the lips rounded, ending with /s/ or /z/ depending on following sound.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress (re-USE vs ri-USE); substituting /riː/ for /riˈjuː/ leading to /riːjuːs/; final consonant confusion between /s/ and /z/ in connected speech. Correction: keep the secondary stress on the second syllable for the verb; ensure the vowel in the second syllable is a true /juː/ glide, not a simple /uː/; practice minimal pairs with /s/ and /z/ in context to feel voicing, such as reuse vs re-use in natural speech.
In US English, the verb typically /riˈjuːz/, with a voiced final /z/. UK English often uses /rɪˈjuːz/ with a slightly shorter /ɪ/ in the first vowel and still a voiced /z/. Australian English generally follows US/UK patterns but with a more centralized /ɪ/ in some speakers and a clear /juː/ onset. All variants keep stress on the second syllable for the verb; noun forms can shift depending on phrasing.
Two main challenges: the vowel quality in the first syllable and the /juː/ sequence. The /juː/ glide requires raising the tongue toward a high front position while rounding the lips—tiny timing differences can affect whether listeners hear /juː/ vs /uː/. The final /s/ versus /z/ is a voicing contrast that often blends in connected speech. Practicing with minimal pairs helps you stabilize the voicing and glide, improving clarity in rapid talk.
The 're-' prefix can lead to subtle contrasts in connected speech: when followed by a voiceless consonant, you may see devoicing or stronger aspiration in quick speech. Additionally, the /r/ onset plus the /juː/ glide is a tight cluster that benefits from a quick, controlled tongue blade lift and lip rounding. In careful enunciation, you’ll hear a clear two-syllable rhythm with stress on the second syllable for the verb.
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- US: rhotic /r/ is strong; relax the jaw slightly for /riˈjuːz/ to avoid over-articulation; the /juː/ is a tight, high back-to-front glide. - UK: more clipped /ɪ/ in the first syllable; maintain the /juː/ as a strong glide to avoid a reduced vowel. - AU: often similar to US with mild vowel reductions; watch for a slightly flatter /ɪ/ in the first vowel and robust /juː/. Use IPA references to target exact sounds.
Reuse derives from the prefix re- meaning 'again' and use, from Old French usage, ultimately from Latin usus meaning 'use, employment'. The construction re- + use appears in Middle English, with early attestations in legal and mercantile texts signaling a shift toward economical resource management. In modern English, reuse is a hallmark of sustainability discourse and policy language, often paired with recycle and reduce in environmental frameworks. The sense evolved from simply using something again to explicitly treating it as a deliberate act of extending utility, rather than disposal. The first known uses in printed English appear in 17th- to 18th-century texts, with the compound becoming common in late 20th century consumer and environmental rhetoric as concerns about waste and resource efficiency intensified. Today, reuse spans industries, from manufacturing to software (reusing code), reflecting a broader semantic domain of reapplication rather than mere repetition.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "reuse" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "reuse" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "reuse"
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