Synonyms

utilize

American

[yoot-l-ahyz] / ˈyut 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

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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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.

Utilize aims to improve grid efficiency via battery storage and better use of existing assets to lower costs for customers.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

The companies joined a handful of firms, including data-center developer Verrus, to form the Utilize coalition unveiled on Tuesday.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

To anyone interested in learning Welsh, she said: "Just give it a go, take it slow. You're not in a competition with anyone. Utilize all the different tools that are out there."

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2022

Utilize them for people pushed out of certain neighborhoods — make them useful again,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2017

Utilize the line by making it the refrain of a ballade or the ending of some similar verse form.

From Rhymes and Meters A Practical Manual for Versifiers by Winslow, Horatio

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