Synonyms

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.

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

Industrial capacity utilization was 76.2% in May, in line with estimates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

If healthcare utilization trends continue to moderate, UnitedHealth—which serves as a bellwether for the industry—should lead a broader rally in shares of managed-care organizations, BofA contended.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

Eastern, followed at 9:15 a.m. by April’s industrial production and capacity utilization.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 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