Synonyms

utilization

American

[yoot-l-ahy-zey-shuhn] / ˌyut 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

misutilization noun
nonutilization noun
overutilization noun
preutilization noun
reutilization noun

Etymology

Origin of utilization

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

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 company expects the unit to continue to grow as additional capacity comes online and utilization improves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Capacity utilization rose above 80% in 2021, a level historically associated with profitability and new investment.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Healthcare utilization included hospital stays, clinic visits either in person or virtual, and emergency room visits.

From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 2026

The prices on these resources have already risen, but an extended war may lead to outright shortages, causing East Asian chip factories to run below full utilization.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 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