Synonyms

utilize

American

[yoot-l-ahyz] / ˈjut lˌaɪz /

especially British, utilise

verb (used with object)

to put to use; turn to profitable account.

to utilize a stream to power a mill.

utilize British

/ ˈjuːtɪˌlaɪz /

verb

(tr) to make practical or worthwhile use of

"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

Usage

What is another way to say utilize? To utilize something is to put it to use or turn it to profitable account. How is utilize different from use? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of utilize

First recorded in 1800–10; from French utiliser, equivalent to utile “useful” ( see utile) + -iser -ize

Explanation

To utilize is to use what you have or what's available, and it's a three-syllable word meaning the same thing as the one-syllable "use." The word utilize is often a more formal way to express "putting something to use." If you don’t have time to go to the store but you need to come up with a science project, you might utilize what's already in the kitchen. Most of the time you can use the verb use as a synonym for utilize. You can utilize a shorter word to make a sentence easier to read.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing utilize

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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"Creativity at Work" and "The Hidden Secrets of the Creative Mind"

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Content Summary 4.1: Causes and Consequences of Iberian Maritime Exploration and Colonialism

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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.

See Examples For:

utilize utilizes utilized utilizing

"We are working to develop medications that may help the brain better utilize these nutrients to preserve cognitive function."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 29, 2026

“That is a tool for officers to utilize to get people into a system of care,” Weiner said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

VPNs that utilize modern protocols, such as WireGuard or Lightway, offer faster and more stable performance.

From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026

The company also plans to utilize an at-the-market program to sell up to $2 billion of its common stock into the market starting the third quarter of 2026.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 9, 2026

Let’s explore ways to utilize familiar pedagogies to approximate the core cultural values associated with music in West African culture.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

The company utilizes neutral atoms for quantum computing, a differentiated approach, and has expanded its global footprint.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

Additionally, any game or studio that utilizes AI “basically gets soft-canceled,” Howe said.

From MarketWatch ● May 23, 2026

The county typically utilizes such cellphone blasts for evacuation warnings or orders, but Vaquero felt strongly that meteorologists were describing a situation that could quickly become catastrophic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026

Xfinity’s first-ever Big Game bid utilizes de-aging software to bring Jurassic Park stars Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill back to the ’90s.

From Slate ● Feb. 8, 2026

I think the difference between a lie and a story is that a story utilizes the trappings and appearance of truth for the interest of the listener as well as of the teller.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

“The U.S. has, for a whole variety of reasons, never utilized a technical ‘dead man’s switch,'” historian Garrett Graff, an expert on continuity of government, told the Associated Press.

From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026

Microplastic samples utilized pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry for analysis.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 28, 2026

For Jens Jenuwein, from Stuttgart, the mall was another American adventure after he traveled there on a yellow school bus -- utilized by transit authorities to shuttle fans from New York.

From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026

Nakamura also pointed out this shift, saying: “We aim to continue providing new materials that can be utilized even as technologies evolve.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Such natural control needs to be utilized to the fullest extent.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

OpenAI introduced its custom AI processor, “Jalapeño,” designed for AI inference, utilizing Broadcom silicon and Celestica rack tech.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

Many networks are utilizing the pause as a new advertising window — and some fans aren’t happy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

McDonald Carheel, who runs his own workforce development business, gave a presentation on utilizing artificial intelligence to help find jobs and create business plans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

It also plays homage to previous Gorillaz collaborators who have departed by utilizing unused or alternate takes from past projects.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

“Oui,” you tell him, utilizing the summation of almost three years of high school French.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

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