Not in use vs not used (2025)

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. My question is if there is a difference in meaning between "not in use" and "not used". Please see examples below.

1. The program is currently not in use.
2. The program is currently not used.

Thank you!

Best regards,

It's hard to say, Laozha.

I think there are situations in which "not in use" might have a different shade of meaning from "not used"; but with "program", I'm not sure.

Can you tell us more about what this "program" is: is it a computer program or something else?

(cross-posted with Mike)

Loob said:

It's hard to say, Laozha.

I think there are situations in which "not in use" might have a different shade of meaning from "not used"; but with "program", I'm not sure.

Can you tell us more about what this "program" is: is it a computer program or something else?

(cross-posted with Mike)

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Yes, it is a computer program. The program is a subpart of a computer software, but the user does not know the existence of it and is not using it today.

MikeNewYork said:

Number one means the program is available but is not currently being used by anyone. Number 2 means the program has been discontinued.

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The way I understand it, it should be the other way round.

I agree with Mike.

The program is currently not used. = No one uses the program now.

The program is currently not in use. = People use the program, but it is not being used at this time.

JennyTW said:

The way I understand it, it should be the other way round.

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Couldn't be.

1. The program is currently not in use.
2. The program is currently not used.

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Originally Posted by MikeNewYork: Number one means the program is available but is not currently being used by anyone. Number 2 means the program has been discontinued.

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JennyTW said:

The way I understand it, it should be the other way round.

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Frankly, I don't see how either sentence would indicate that the program has been discontinued. To my mind, "discontinued" means "no longer available" and there's nothing to indicate that the program is no longer around to be used. They both indicate that it had been used, but is presently not being used. If one were to express the idea that the program has been discontinued, I'd expect to see something more like: "The program can be no longer used."

akhooha said:

Frankly, I don't see how either sentence would indicate that the program has been discontinued. To my mind, "discontinued" means "no longer available" and there's nothing to indicate that the program is no longer around to be used. They both indicate that it had been used, but is presently not being used. If one were to express the idea that the program has been discontinued, I'd expect to see something more like: "The program can be no longer used."

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I disagree. "Not in use" is far different from "not used".

The inclusion of the word 'currently' clouds the issue because it removes any possible connotations of permanence from both statements. So, considering the sentences without it:

1. The program is not in use. - the program is not being used at this particular time or the availability of the program has been suspended (not discontinued).
2. The program is not used. - the program is available but not used (for reasons unspecified).

Neither statement suggests to me a permanent discontinuation, but either statement could be modified to include it:

1. The program is not in use any more.
2. The program is not used any more.

And we have a pair of interchangeable sentences.

By including the word "currently" you are expressly implying that the program will be used in the future.
The program is not currently in use. = The program can only be used by one person at a time. At this moment, nobody is using it, so it is free for you to use.
The program is not currently used. = We do not use the program right now and will probably not be using it for a long time, but at some point in the future we will start using it again.

Alternatively:
The program is discontinued. or The program is no longer used. = The program will never be used again.