diff --git a/docs/content/using-npm/config.md b/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
index 435f9cee237da..1eedc26a5fbdf 100644
--- a/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
+++ b/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ The following shorthands are parsed on the command-line:
 * `-H`: `--usage`
 * `--help`: `--usage`
 * `-v`: `--version`
+* `-w`: `--workspace`
+* `--ws`: `--workspaces`
 * `-y`: `--yes`
 
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG SHORTHANDS END -->
@@ -1311,6 +1313,34 @@ The program to use to view help content.
 
 Set to `"browser"` to view html help content in the default web browser.
 
+#### `which`
+
+* Default: null
+* Type: null or Number
+
+If there are multiple funding sources, which 1-indexed source URL to open.
+
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either: - Workspace names - Path
+to a workspace directory - Path to a parent workspace directory (will result
+to selecting all of the nested workspaces)
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
 #### `yes`
 
 * Default: false
diff --git a/lib/adduser.js b/lib/adduser.js
index f761ae38664b2..f35b9829fe946 100644
--- a/lib/adduser.js
+++ b/lib/adduser.js
@@ -17,8 +17,12 @@ class AddUser extends BaseCommand {
     return 'adduser'
   }
 
-  static get usage () {
-    return ['[--registry=url] [--scope=@orgname] [--always-auth]']
+  static get params () {
+    return [
+      'registry',
+      'scope',
+      'always-auth',
+    ]
   }
 
   exec (args, cb) {
diff --git a/lib/audit.js b/lib/audit.js
index a752f202f5dff..f990e1fa5efaa 100644
--- a/lib/audit.js
+++ b/lib/audit.js
@@ -16,13 +16,21 @@ class Audit extends BaseCommand {
   }
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
-  static get usage () {
+  static get params () {
     return [
-      '[--json] [--production]',
-      'fix [--force|--package-lock-only|--dry-run|--production|--only=(dev|prod)]',
+      'dry-run',
+      'force',
+      'json',
+      'package-lock-only',
+      'production',
     ]
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get usage () {
+    return ['[fix]']
+  }
+
   async completion (opts) {
     const argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
 
diff --git a/lib/base-command.js b/lib/base-command.js
index a142b3336d10b..7a9e4b8ee377e 100644
--- a/lib/base-command.js
+++ b/lib/base-command.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // Base class for npm.commands[cmd]
 const usageUtil = require('./utils/usage.js')
+const ConfigDefinitions = require('./utils/config/definitions.js')
 
 class BaseCommand {
   constructor (npm) {
@@ -25,6 +26,9 @@ class BaseCommand {
     else
       usage = `${usage}${this.constructor.usage.map(u => `npm ${this.constructor.name} ${u}`).join('\n')}`
 
+    if (this.constructor.params)
+      usage = `${usage}\n\nOptions:\n[${this.constructor.params.map(p => ConfigDefinitions[p].usage).join('] [')}]`
+
     // Mostly this just appends aliases, this could be more clear
     usage = usageUtil(this.constructor.name, usage)
     usage = `${usage}\n\nRun "npm help ${this.constructor.name}" for more info`
diff --git a/lib/bin.js b/lib/bin.js
index 23098b670d5ef..20e13f160f276 100644
--- a/lib/bin.js
+++ b/lib/bin.js
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ class Bin extends BaseCommand {
     return 'bin'
   }
 
-  static get usage () {
-    return ['[-g]']
+  static get params () {
+    return ['global']
   }
 
   exec (args, cb) {
diff --git a/lib/fund.js b/lib/fund.js
index 302f10dcf4b41..217a21d1fc3e3 100644
--- a/lib/fund.js
+++ b/lib/fund.js
@@ -32,9 +32,19 @@ class Fund extends BaseCommand {
     return 'fund'
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get params () {
+    return [
+      'json',
+      'browser',
+      'unicode',
+      'which',
+    ]
+  }
+
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get usage () {
-    return ['[--json] [--browser] [--unicode] [[<@scope>/]<pkg> [--which=<fundingSourceNumber>]']
+    return ['[[<@scope>/]<pkg>]']
   }
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
diff --git a/lib/install.js b/lib/install.js
index 363230d31b199..54ea6d8251051 100644
--- a/lib/install.js
+++ b/lib/install.js
@@ -21,6 +21,14 @@ class Install extends BaseCommand {
     return 'install'
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get params () {
+    return [
+      'save',
+      'save-exact',
+    ]
+  }
+
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get usage () {
     return [
@@ -33,7 +41,7 @@ class Install extends BaseCommand {
       '<tarball file>',
       '<tarball url>',
       '<git:// url>',
-      '<github username>/<github project> [--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer] [--save-exact] [--no-save]',
+      '<github username>/<github project>',
     ]
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/logout.js b/lib/logout.js
index 3589d287bc5ed..adc19a923af9a 100644
--- a/lib/logout.js
+++ b/lib/logout.js
@@ -15,8 +15,11 @@ class Logout extends BaseCommand {
   }
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
-  static get usage () {
-    return ['[--registry=<url>] [--scope=<@scope>]']
+  static get params () {
+    return [
+      'registry',
+      'scope',
+    ]
   }
 
   exec (args, cb) {
diff --git a/lib/pack.js b/lib/pack.js
index 4618e767e64bb..92a2fbd7ac33c 100644
--- a/lib/pack.js
+++ b/lib/pack.js
@@ -21,9 +21,14 @@ class Pack extends BaseCommand {
     return 'pack'
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get params () {
+    return ['dry-run']
+  }
+
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get usage () {
-    return ['[[<@scope>/]<pkg>...] [--dry-run]']
+    return ['[[<@scope>/]<pkg>...]']
   }
 
   exec (args, cb) {
diff --git a/lib/ping.js b/lib/ping.js
index b68ea6b567446..30379377482ec 100644
--- a/lib/ping.js
+++ b/lib/ping.js
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ class Ping extends BaseCommand {
     return 'Ping npm registry'
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get params () {
+    return ['registry']
+  }
+
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get name () {
     return 'ping'
diff --git a/lib/prune.js b/lib/prune.js
index e86d5c05314bb..1da86a3e82187 100644
--- a/lib/prune.js
+++ b/lib/prune.js
@@ -14,9 +14,14 @@ class Prune extends BaseCommand {
     return 'prune'
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get params () {
+    return ['production']
+  }
+
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get usage () {
-    return ['[[<@scope>/]<pkg>...] [--production]']
+    return ['[[<@scope>/]<pkg>...]']
   }
 
   exec (args, cb) {
diff --git a/lib/publish.js b/lib/publish.js
index 410e911f9a29f..b121cb3d36773 100644
--- a/lib/publish.js
+++ b/lib/publish.js
@@ -28,10 +28,15 @@ class Publish extends BaseCommand {
     return 'publish'
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get params () {
+    return ['tag', 'access', 'dry-run']
+  }
+
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get usage () {
     return [
-      '[<folder>] [--tag <tag>] [--access <public|restricted>] [--dry-run]',
+      '[<folder>]',
     ]
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/root.js b/lib/root.js
index d24a2e20a99de..635a68e256318 100644
--- a/lib/root.js
+++ b/lib/root.js
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ class Root extends BaseCommand {
   }
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
-  static get usage () {
-    return ['[-g]']
+  static get params () {
+    return ['global']
   }
 
   exec (args, cb) {
diff --git a/lib/search.js b/lib/search.js
index aca9113cec354..bdd374ab6edf7 100644
--- a/lib/search.js
+++ b/lib/search.js
@@ -36,9 +36,19 @@ class Search extends BaseCommand {
     return 'search'
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get params () {
+    return [
+      'long',
+      'json',
+      'parseable',
+      'description',
+    ]
+  }
+
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get usage () {
-    return ['[-l|--long] [--json] [--parseable] [--no-description] [search terms ...]']
+    return ['[search terms ...]']
   }
 
   exec (args, cb) {
diff --git a/lib/uninstall.js b/lib/uninstall.js
index 16a49b757cd95..11e65533a8e98 100644
--- a/lib/uninstall.js
+++ b/lib/uninstall.js
@@ -16,9 +16,14 @@ class Uninstall extends BaseCommand {
     return 'uninstall'
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get params () {
+    return ['save']
+  }
+
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get usage () {
-    return ['[<@scope>/]<pkg>[@<version>]... [-S|--save|--no-save]']
+    return ['[<@scope>/]<pkg>...']
   }
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
diff --git a/lib/update.js b/lib/update.js
index 66a668cd32c94..6a87dd9ecddcf 100644
--- a/lib/update.js
+++ b/lib/update.js
@@ -18,9 +18,14 @@ class Update extends BaseCommand {
     return 'update'
   }
 
+  /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
+  static get params () {
+    return ['global']
+  }
+
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get usage () {
-    return ['[-g] [<pkg>...]']
+    return ['[<pkg>...]']
   }
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
diff --git a/lib/utils/config/definition.js b/lib/utils/config/definition.js
index b6323a51259dc..cb4eb78210c6e 100644
--- a/lib/utils/config/definition.js
+++ b/lib/utils/config/definition.js
@@ -15,14 +15,16 @@ const required = [
 
 const allowed = [
   'default',
-  'type',
+  'defaultDescription',
+  'deprecated',
   'description',
   'flatten',
+  'hint',
+  'key',
   'short',
+  'type',
   'typeDescription',
-  'defaultDescription',
-  'deprecated',
-  'key',
+  'usage',
 ]
 
 const {
@@ -43,6 +45,10 @@ class Definition {
       this.defaultDescription = describeValue(this.default)
     if (!this.typeDescription)
       this.typeDescription = describeType(this.type)
+    if (!this.hint)
+      this.hint = `<${this.key}>`
+    if (!this.usage)
+      this.usage = describeUsage(this)
   }
 
   validate () {
@@ -73,6 +79,28 @@ ${description}
   }
 }
 
+// Usage for a single param, abstracted because we have arrays of types in
+// config definition
+const paramUsage = (type, def) => {
+  let key = `--${def.key}`
+  if (def.short && typeof def.short === 'string')
+    key = `-${def.short}|${key}`
+  if (type === Boolean)
+    return `${key}`
+  else
+    return `${key} ${def.hint}`
+}
+
+const describeUsage = (def) => {
+  if (Array.isArray(def.type)) {
+    if (!def.type.some(d => d !== null && typeof d !== 'string'))
+      return `--${def.key} <${def.type.filter(d => d).join('|')}>`
+    else
+      return def.type.filter(d => d).map((t) => paramUsage(t, def)).join('|')
+  }
+  return paramUsage(def.type, def)
+}
+
 const describeType = type => {
   if (Array.isArray(type)) {
     const descriptions = type
diff --git a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
index 4dd1abe09ed37..9a7c0092f04d9 100644
--- a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
+++ b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
@@ -467,6 +467,7 @@ define('depth', {
 define('description', {
   default: true,
   type: Boolean,
+  usage: '--no-description',
   description: `
     Show the description in \`npm search\`
   `,
@@ -1287,6 +1288,7 @@ define('otp', {
 
 define('package', {
   default: [],
+  hint: '<pkg>[@<version>]',
   type: [String, Array],
   description: `
     The package to install for [\`npm exec\`](/commands/npm-exec)
@@ -1448,6 +1450,7 @@ define('registry', {
 
 define('save', {
   default: true,
+  usage: '-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer',
   type: Boolean,
   short: 'S',
   description: `
@@ -1611,6 +1614,7 @@ define('scope', {
     the scope of the current project, if any, or ""
   `,
   type: String,
+  hint: '<@scope>',
   description: `
     Associate an operation with a scope for a scoped registry.
 
@@ -2003,6 +2007,15 @@ define('viewer', {
   `,
 })
 
+define('which', {
+  default: null,
+  hint: '<fundingSourceNumber>',
+  type: [null, Number],
+  description: `
+    If there are multiple funding sources, which 1-indexed source URL to open.
+  `,
+})
+
 define('workspace', {
   default: [],
   type: [String, Array],
diff --git a/lib/whoami.js b/lib/whoami.js
index 6e2841359f7e1..82c4520d9e883 100644
--- a/lib/whoami.js
+++ b/lib/whoami.js
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ class Whoami extends BaseCommand {
   }
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
-  static get usage () {
-    return ['[--registry <registry>]']
+  static get params () {
+    return ['registry']
   }
 
   exec (args, cb) {
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test-lib-publish.js-TAP.test.js b/tap-snapshots/test-lib-publish.js-TAP.test.js
index e777797d70b27..172ed5b29f478 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test-lib-publish.js-TAP.test.js
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test-lib-publish.js-TAP.test.js
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ npm publish
 Publish a package
 
 Usage:
-npm publish [<folder>] [--tag <tag>] [--access <public|restricted>] [--dry-run]
+npm publish [<folder>]
+
+Options:
+[--tag <tag>] [--access <restricted|public>] [--dry-run]
 
 Run "npm help publish" for more info
 `
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-config-definitions.js-TAP.test.js b/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-config-definitions.js-TAP.test.js
index d6a72b99b24fc..2ed810da8a284 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-config-definitions.js-TAP.test.js
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-config-definitions.js-TAP.test.js
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ Array [
   "version",
   "versions",
   "viewer",
+  "which",
   "workspace",
   "workspaces",
   "yes",
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-config-describe-all.js-TAP.test.js b/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-config-describe-all.js-TAP.test.js
index 909b31f83cc28..10cc2b2388138 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-config-describe-all.js-TAP.test.js
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-config-describe-all.js-TAP.test.js
@@ -1192,6 +1192,13 @@ The program to use to view help content.
 
 Set to \`"browser"\` to view html help content in the default web browser.
 
+#### \`which\`
+
+* Default: null
+* Type: null or Number
+
+If there are multiple funding sources, which 1-indexed source URL to open.
+
 #### \`workspace\`
 
 * Default:
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-npm-usage.js-TAP.test.js b/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-npm-usage.js-TAP.test.js
index 11f7ff02408ae..260e2ab8f8d50 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-npm-usage.js-TAP.test.js
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test-lib-utils-npm-usage.js-TAP.test.js
@@ -187,7 +187,10 @@ All commands:
                     Add a registry user account
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm adduser [--registry=url] [--scope=@orgname] [--always-auth]
+                    npm adduser
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [--registry <registry>] [--scope <@scope>] [--always-auth]
                     
                     aliases: login, add-user
                     
@@ -198,8 +201,10 @@ All commands:
                     Run a security audit
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm audit [--json] [--production]
-                    npm audit fix [--force|--package-lock-only|--dry-run|--production|--only=(dev|prod)]
+                    npm audit [fix]
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [--dry-run] [-f|--force] [--json] [--package-lock-only] [--production]
                     
                     Run "npm help audit" for more info
 
@@ -208,7 +213,10 @@ All commands:
                     Display npm bin folder
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm bin [-g]
+                    npm bin
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [-g|--global]
                     
                     Run "npm help bin" for more info
 
@@ -396,7 +404,10 @@ All commands:
                     Retrieve funding information
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm fund [--json] [--browser] [--unicode] [[<@scope>/]<pkg> [--which=<fundingSourceNumber>]
+                    npm fund [[<@scope>/]<pkg>]
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [--json] [--browser|--browser <browser>] [--unicode] [--which <fundingSourceNumber>]
                     
                     Run "npm help fund" for more info
 
@@ -459,7 +470,10 @@ All commands:
                     npm install <tarball file>
                     npm install <tarball url>
                     npm install <git:// url>
-                    npm install <github username>/<github project> [--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer] [--save-exact] [--no-save]
+                    npm install <github username>/<github project>
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer] [-E|--save-exact]
                     
                     aliases: i, in, ins, inst, insta, instal, isnt, isnta, isntal, add
                     
@@ -490,7 +504,10 @@ All commands:
                     npm install-test <tarball file>
                     npm install-test <tarball url>
                     npm install-test <git:// url>
-                    npm install-test <github username>/<github project> [--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer] [--save-exact] [--no-save]
+                    npm install-test <github username>/<github project>
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer] [-E|--save-exact]
                     
                     alias: it
                     
@@ -524,7 +541,10 @@ All commands:
                     Add a registry user account
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm adduser [--registry=url] [--scope=@orgname] [--always-auth]
+                    npm adduser
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [--registry <registry>] [--scope <@scope>] [--always-auth]
                     
                     aliases: login, add-user
                     
@@ -535,7 +555,10 @@ All commands:
                     Log out of the registry
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm logout [--registry=<url>] [--scope=<@scope>]
+                    npm logout
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [--registry <registry>] [--scope <@scope>]
                     
                     Run "npm help logout" for more info
 
@@ -590,7 +613,10 @@ All commands:
                     Create a tarball from a package
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm pack [[<@scope>/]<pkg>...] [--dry-run]
+                    npm pack [[<@scope>/]<pkg>...]
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [--dry-run]
                     
                     Run "npm help pack" for more info
 
@@ -601,6 +627,9 @@ All commands:
                     Usage:
                     npm ping
                     
+                    Options:
+                    [--registry <registry>]
+                    
                     Run "npm help ping" for more info
 
     prefix          npm prefix
@@ -629,7 +658,10 @@ All commands:
                     Remove extraneous packages
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm prune [[<@scope>/]<pkg>...] [--production]
+                    npm prune [[<@scope>/]<pkg>...]
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [--production]
                     
                     Run "npm help prune" for more info
 
@@ -638,7 +670,10 @@ All commands:
                     Publish a package
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm publish [<folder>] [--tag <tag>] [--access <public|restricted>] [--dry-run]
+                    npm publish [<folder>]
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [--tag <tag>] [--access <restricted|public>] [--dry-run]
                     
                     Run "npm help publish" for more info
 
@@ -676,7 +711,10 @@ All commands:
                     Display npm root
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm root [-g]
+                    npm root
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [-g|--global]
                     
                     Run "npm help root" for more info
 
@@ -696,7 +734,10 @@ All commands:
                     Search for pacakges
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm search [-l|--long] [--json] [--parseable] [--no-description] [search terms ...]
+                    npm search [search terms ...]
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [-l|--long] [--json] [-p|--parseable] [--no-description]
                     
                     aliases: s, se, find
                     
@@ -805,7 +846,10 @@ All commands:
                     Remove a package
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm uninstall [<@scope>/]<pkg>[@<version>]... [-S|--save|--no-save]
+                    npm uninstall [<@scope>/]<pkg>...
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer]
                     
                     aliases: un, unlink, remove, rm, r
                     
@@ -834,7 +878,10 @@ All commands:
                     Update packages
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm update [-g] [<pkg>...]
+                    npm update [<pkg>...]
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [-g|--global]
                     
                     aliases: up, upgrade, udpate
                     
@@ -867,7 +914,10 @@ All commands:
                     Display npm username
                     
                     Usage:
-                    npm whoami [--registry <registry>]
+                    npm whoami
+                    
+                    Options:
+                    [--registry <registry>]
                     
                     Run "npm help whoami" for more info
 
diff --git a/test/lib/load-all-commands.js b/test/lib/load-all-commands.js
index 2a2d41818fa80..d7eb2eae0a8ad 100644
--- a/test/lib/load-all-commands.js
+++ b/test/lib/load-all-commands.js
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 // Thanks to nyc not working properly with proxies this doesn't affect
-// coverage. but it does ensure that every command has a usage that contains
-// its name, a description, and if it has completion it is a function
+// coverage. but it does ensure that every command has a usage that renders,
+// contains its name, a description, and if it has completion it is a function.
+// That it renders also ensures that any params we've defined in our commands
+// work.
 const requireInject = require('require-inject')
 const npm = requireInject('../../lib/npm.js')
 const t = require('tap')
diff --git a/test/lib/set-script.js b/test/lib/set-script.js
index 7a057c503652f..b6b6e2519f5ba 100644
--- a/test/lib/set-script.js
+++ b/test/lib/set-script.js
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ test.test('fails when package.json not found', (t) => {
 })
 test.test('fails on invalid JSON', (t) => {
   const SetScript = requireInject('../../lib/set-script.js', {
+    '../../lib/utils/config/definitions.js': {},
     fs: {
       readFile: () => {}, // read-package-json-fast explodes w/o this
       readFileSync: (name, charcode) => {
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ test.test('fails on invalid JSON', (t) => {
 test.test('creates scripts object', (t) => {
   var mockFile = ''
   const SetScript = requireInject('../../lib/set-script.js', {
+    '../../lib/utils/config/definitions.js': {},
     fs: {
       readFileSync: (name, charcode) => {
         return '{}'
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@ test.test('creates scripts object', (t) => {
 test.test('warns before overwriting', (t) => {
   var warningListened = ''
   const SetScript = requireInject('../../lib/set-script.js', {
+    '../../lib/utils/config/definitions.js': {},
     fs: {
       readFileSync: (name, charcode) => {
         return JSON.stringify({
@@ -102,6 +105,7 @@ test.test('warns before overwriting', (t) => {
 test.test('provided indentation and eol is used', (t) => {
   var mockFile = ''
   const SetScript = requireInject('../../lib/set-script.js', {
+    '../../lib/utils/config/definitions.js': {},
     fs: {
       readFileSync: (name, charcode) => {
         return '{}'
@@ -128,6 +132,7 @@ test.test('provided indentation and eol is used', (t) => {
 test.test('goes to default when undefined indent and eol provided', (t) => {
   var mockFile = ''
   const SetScript = requireInject('../../lib/set-script.js', {
+    '../../lib/utils/config/definitions.js': {},
     fs: {
       readFileSync: (name, charcode) => {
         return '{}'
diff --git a/test/lib/shrinkwrap.js b/test/lib/shrinkwrap.js
index b3de4f5fae28e..faf452ea702f2 100644
--- a/test/lib/shrinkwrap.js
+++ b/test/lib/shrinkwrap.js
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ const mocks = {
     }
   },
   '../../lib/utils/usage.js': () => 'usage instructions',
+  '../../lib/utils/config/definitions.js': {},
 }
 
 t.afterEach(cb => {
diff --git a/test/lib/utils/config/definition.js b/test/lib/utils/config/definition.js
index 25530f7237138..56e10da0cbd7d 100644
--- a/test/lib/utils/config/definition.js
+++ b/test/lib/utils/config/definition.js
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ t.test('basic definition', async t => {
     default: 'some default value',
     defaultDescription: '"some default value"',
     type: [Number, String],
+    hint: '<key>',
+    usage: '--key <key>|--key <key>',
     typeDescription: 'Number or String',
     description: 'just a test thingie',
   })
@@ -78,6 +80,39 @@ t.test('basic definition', async t => {
     description: 'asdf',
   })
   t.equal(multi123Semver.typeDescription, '1, 2, 3, or SemVer string (can be set multiple times)')
+  const hasUsage = new Definition('key', {
+    default: 'test default',
+    type: String,
+    description: 'test description',
+    usage: 'test usage',
+  })
+  t.equal(hasUsage.usage, 'test usage')
+  const hasShort = new Definition('key', {
+    default: 'test default',
+    short: 't',
+    type: String,
+    description: 'test description',
+  })
+  t.equal(hasShort.usage, '-t|--key <key>')
+  const hardCodedTypes = new Definition('key', {
+    default: 'test default',
+    type: ['string1', 'string2'],
+    description: 'test description',
+  })
+  t.equal(hardCodedTypes.usage, '--key <string1|string2>')
+  const hardCodedOptionalTypes = new Definition('key', {
+    default: 'test default',
+    type: [null, 'string1', 'string2'],
+    description: 'test description',
+  })
+  t.equal(hardCodedOptionalTypes.usage, '--key <string1|string2>')
+  const hasHint = new Definition('key', {
+    default: 'test default',
+    type: String,
+    description: 'test description',
+    hint: '<testparam>',
+  })
+  t.equal(hasHint.usage, '--key <testparam>')
 })
 
 t.test('missing fields', async t => {