eles usavam

used (to)

→ usar
us use; wear + ava Imperfect tense + m they imperfect
verb · third plural · imperfect indicative Uncommon #18,369
used (to) Imperfect past (they/you all) of “usar”; often implies a habitual or ongoing past action.
PO: Antigamente, eles usavam chapéu todos os dias.
EN: In the past, they used to wear a hat every day.
Conjugation of usar
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First usava —
Third usava usavam

Na casa de meu pai, até as empregadas usavam braceletes assim.

At my father's house, even the maids wore bracelets like these.

— देवदास (2002)

Muitas das mulheres usavam casacos de pele.

Many of the women wore fur coats.

Os ladrões usavam luvas.

The thieves were wearing gloves.

Elas usavam belos anéis.

They wore beautiful rings.

Mary e Alice usavam saias curtas e sapatos de salto alto.

Mary and Alice wore short skirts and high-heeled shoes.

Todas usavam roupas vermelhas.

They were all wearing red clothes.

— Memórias de um Assassino (2003)

Eu não sabia que eles usavam a porta de trás.

I didn't know they used the back door.

— O Profeta (2009)

Mary e Alice ambos usavam saias curtas e sapatos de salto alto.

Mary and Alice were both wearing short skirts and high-heeled shoes.

Nem todos os passageiros usavam cinto de segurança.

Not all passengers were wearing seatbelts.

Alguns dos passageiros não usavam cinto de segurança.

Some of the passengers weren't wearing seat belts.

Os policiais usavam máscaras de gás e capacetes.

The police officers were wearing gas masks and helmets.

Muitas mulheres usavam casacos de pele.

Many women wore fur coats.

Os soldados usavam capacetes de aço.

The soldiers wore steel helmets.

Os assaltantes do banco usavam máscaras.

The bank robbers were wearing masks.

Elas usavam vestidos iguais.

They were wearing identical dresses.

O usavam contra as pessoas.

They used it against people.

— O Peso de um Passado (1988)

Antes os políticos usavam o sistema para ganhar dinheiro.

Previously, politicians used the system to make money.

— Tropa de Elite 2: O Inimigo Agora é Outro (2010)

Eles usavam belos anéis.

They wore beautiful rings.