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

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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.

Uber and Autobrains will utilize Nvidia’s Drive Hyperion, an autonomous driving development platform that helps auto companies and startups create, test and roll out driver-assisted and autonomous-driving programs at scale.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

Most U.S. users utilize virtual private networks that mask their location to access the entire platform.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

Many private asset firms utilize “day-one markups” on secondary investments, an accounting practice that boosts reported profits and manager incentive payouts.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

For example, if Anthropic is unable to successfully utilize Google’s TPUs down the line, that would be a bad sign for the product, he said.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

Instead, by a variety of adaptations they utilize their victims for the nurture of their own young.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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