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” ( utile ) + -iser -ize

Example Sentences

Because of this, solar cells can only utilize about one-third of incoming sunlight.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

Anthropic announced a new update on Monday that allows its AI agent Claude to utilize a user’s computer to complete tasks.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

“Even if they can come up with a way to utilize AI to fight fires, people are always going to want that empathy from an actual human who actually cares during a moment of crisis.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

“Waiver requests are usually predicated on the supposed lack of U.S.-flag service and, therefore the need to utilize a foreign vessel for what is otherwise transportation reserve to U.S.-flag vessels,” Papavizas added.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

And the system does utilize the nutrients for my skin.

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson

Related Words

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