be used to
be used to — idiom
1. If you are used to something, you have seen, done, or experienced it so often th
If you are used to something, you have seen, done, or experienced it so often that it no longer feels new, strange, or difficult.
Justin has lived in Taipei for years, so he is used to the humid weather.
be used to + noun phrase
Selim struggled at first but was used to waking at 5 a.m. within a month.
be used to + gerund
The children are not used to spicy food, so their mother cooks mild meals.
Tara is used to night shifts, so working late at the hospital feels normal.
After three weeks on the farm, Luca was used to the animals' smell.
- get used to
describes the process of becoming familiar, while 'be used to' describes the state after that process
- accustomed to
more formal register, same grammar pattern (be accustomed to + noun/gerund)
- familiar with
similar meaning but takes 'with' instead of 'to', and often implies knowledge rather than comfort
- unused to
the opposite state — not familiar with something
- unaccustomed to
formal opposite, same grammar pattern
文法句型
be used to + noun phrase
be used to + gerund
用法筆記
The preposition 'to' in this idiom must be followed by a noun, noun phrase, or gerund (-ing form), never a bare infinitive. Distinguish from the auxiliary 'used to' (past habit), which takes a base verb — e.g. 'I used to swim every day.'