utilization

American

[yoot-l-ahy-zey-shuhn] / ˌjut l aɪˈzeɪ ʃən /

especially British, utilisation

noun

an act or instance of making practical or profitable use of something.

I don't think this plan results in the best utilization of tax dollars.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

utilizations

plural

Etymology

Origin of utilization

First recorded in 1840–45; utiliz(e) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Explanation

Utilization is a fancy way of saying "use." A team's utilization of a gym for practices might need to continue until it stops raining. You can see the verb utilize in utilization. When you utilize something, you use it, whether it is a tool, like when you utilize a pen to write something down, or a skill or talent, like the speed you utilize when you run a race. So utilization is the act of using, like the utilization of your voice that enables you to sing a song.

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Vocabulary lists containing utilization

Lessons 3–4

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The regulator has raised questions about EchoStar’s build-out extension and mobile-satellite service utilization in the 2 GHz band.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026

In determining a credit score, utilization is the second most influential factor after payment history, so requesting a credit-limit increase to lower that utilization ratio is one strategic way consumers can boost their credit score.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

Rates of credit utilization, saving and even wage growth—particularly on the lower end of the spectrum—are all moving in the wrong direction.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Looking forward, Wizz Air Chief Executive Jozsef Varadi aims to focus on core markets, restore the carrier’s full fleet utilization, and maintain discipline in capacity growth and cost control.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

The utilization of planetary resources so that new interstellar spacecraft could be constructed locally would be a slow process.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023