utilize

[ yoot-l-ahyz ]
See synonyms for: utilizeutilizedutilizesutilizing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),u·ti·lized, u·ti·liz·ing.
  1. to put to use; turn to profitable account: to utilize a stream to power a mill.

Origin of utilize

1
First recorded in 1800–10; from French utiliser, equivalent to utile “useful” (see utile) + -iser-ize
  • Also especially British, u·ti·lise .

Other words from utilize

  • u·ti·liz·a·ble, adjective
  • u·ti·li·za·tion [yoot-l-ahy-zey-shuhn], /ˌyut l aɪˈzeɪ ʃən/, noun
  • u·ti·liz·er, noun
  • half·-u·til·ized, adjective
  • non·u·til·ized, adjective
  • o·ver·u·ti·lize, verb (used with object), o·ver·u·ti·lized, o·ver·u·ti·liz·ing.
  • pre·u·ti·liz·a·ble, adjective
  • pre·u·ti·lize, verb (used with object), pre·u·ti·lized, pre·u·ti·liz·ing.
  • qua·si-u·ti·lized, adjective
  • re·u·ti·lize, verb (used with object), re·u·ti·lized, re·u·ti·liz·ing.
  • un·der·u·ti·lized, adjective
  • un·u·ti·liz·a·ble, adjective
  • un·u·ti·lized, adjective
  • well-u·ti·lized, adjective

Words that may be confused with utilize

Words Nearby utilize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use utilize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for utilize

utilize

utilise

/ (ˈjuːtɪˌlaɪz) /


verb
  1. (tr) to make practical or worthwhile use of

Derived forms of utilize

  • utilizable or utilisable, adjective
  • utilization or utilisation, noun
  • utilizer or utiliser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012