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

At Operation Warp Speed, Palantir’s Julie Bush grasped the project’s operational requirements and translated them into technical specifications that Palantir engineers could utilize.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

She aims to expand access to justice “by supporting funding that allows more self-represented litigants to utilize Los Angeles County’s Self-Help Centers.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Please advise on how best to utilize the funds we’ve accumulated through years of hard work.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 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

“If we need to utilize that, I’ll let you know.”

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Related Words

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