utilize

American  

[yoot-l-ahyz] / ˈyut lˌaɪz /

especially British, utilise

verb (used with object)

utilized, utilizing

1. to put to use; turn to profitable account.

   to utilize a stream to power a mill.

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utilize British  

/ ˈjuːtɪˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to make practical or worthwhile use of

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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

• half-utilized
  adjective
• nonutilized
  adjective
• overutilize
  verb (used with object)
• preutilizable
  adjective
• preutilize
  verb (used with object)
• quasi-utilized
  adjective
• reutilize
  verb (used with object)
• underutilized
  adjective
• unutilizable
  adjective
• unutilized
  adjective
• utilizable
  adjective
• utilization
  noun
• utilizer
  noun
• well-utilized
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

The impact on Ferrari is less clear, but Barclays thinks it would mostly utilize its contractual right to pass on tariffs for the most part.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

The doctrine “is relevant to attempts by taxpayers to mechanically utilize the provisions of the Tax Code to obtain a benefit not intended by Congress,” wrote Judge Michael Murphy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Just like how students can use AI to help on their homework, criminals can also utilize AI capabilities.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

When it comes to AI, I would focus on learning how to utilize programs to enhance your own skills.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

For instance, the stone sickles, underground storage pits, and other technology that hunter-gatherers of the Fertile Crescent had been evolving to utilize wild cereals were available to the first cereal farmers of the Fertile Crescent.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• apply
• appropriate
• employ
• exploit
• handle
• promote
• resort to
• take advantage of