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Synonyms

utilization

American  
[yoot-l-ahy-zey-shuhn] / ˌjut l aɪˈzeɪ ʃən /
especially British, utilisation

noun

utilizations plural
  1. 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

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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing utilization

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.

See Examples For:

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

This maintains regular activity while keeping the credit utilization low — ideally below 30%, Patel recommended.

From MarketWatch Jun. 17, 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

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

PG&E was willing to put up extra money for research it might be able to exploit commercially, such as studies of “the utilization of electricity on the farm,” he wrote.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

“Crucially, we also believe we are at the crux of a gross margin inflection point, driven by improving utilizations and GlobalFoundries aggressively expanding into accretive end-markets,” Muse wrote.

From Barron's May 4, 2026

The lower chemicals utilizations were already well flagged by the company, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 15, 2026

The reduced utilizations, Rand found, occurred because the subjects decided to delay or forgo treatments, possibly inadvisedly.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 8, 2025

The utilizations of the date palm and its products are very numerous.

From Scientific American, Volume XXXVI., No. 8, February 24, 1877 A Weekly Journal of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, and Manufactures. by Various

Compared with these traces of giant handiwork, what are the works of man? just little putterings for our own convenience, just little utilizations of waste energies for our own purposes.

From Two Thousand Miles on an Automobile Being a Desultory Narrative of a Trip Through New England, New York, Canada, and the West, By "Chauffeur" by Eddy, Arthur Jerome

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