utilize

verb

uti·​lize ˈyü-tə-ˌlīz How to pronounce utilize (audio)
utilized; utilizing
Synonyms of utilizenext

transitive verb

: to make use of : turn to practical use or account
… I'm a great person for utilizing waste power.Robert Frost
utilizable adjective
utilization noun
utilizer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for utilize

use, employ, utilize mean to put into service especially to attain an end.

use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end.

willing to use any means to achieve her ends

employ suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, inactive, or disengaged.

looking for better ways to employ their skills

utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.

an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

Examples of utilize in a Sentence

Many of the library's resources are not utilized by townspeople. we must utilize all the tools at our disposal
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The filing further alleges that Ziering utilized his celebrity to steer the narrative around the altercation by giving multiple interviews to multiple news sources, and by omitting the truth when recounting the incident on his social media. Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025 As large language models are increasingly utilized in financial decision-making domains such as asset management and commodity trading, understanding their potential for pathological decision-making has gained practical significance. Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 For the project, the research team utilized the properties of bifacial solar cells and implemented a round-the-clock power generation system. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025 These probes revealed that brands frequently outsourced production to a network of subcontractors — many Chinese-owned — who utilized undocumented labor in sweatshop-like conditions to maximize profit margins. Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for utilize

Word History

Etymology

French utiliser, from utile

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of utilize was in 1807

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Utilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utilize. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

utilize

verb
uti·​lize ˈyüt-ᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce utilize (audio)
utilized; utilizing
: to make use of especially for a certain job
utilization noun

More from Merriam-Webster on utilize

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