utilize

verb

ˈyü-tə-ˌlīz How to pronounce utilize (audio)
Definition of utilizenext
as in to use
to put into action or service we must utilize all the tools at our disposal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb utilize contrast with its synonyms?

The words employ and use are common synonyms of utilize. While all three words mean "to put into service especially to attain an end," utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.

an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

When is it sensible to use employ instead of utilize?

Although the words employ and utilize have much in common, 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

When would use be a good substitute for utilize?

The words use and utilize are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end.

willing to use any means to achieve her ends

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of utilize The promotion has utilized CMLL talent during its shows and has run joint events together, including Lucha Apocalypto in Chicago this year. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Off-White’s cachet is indelibly intertwined with Abloh’s legacy, who utilized it as a platform for his inclusive, collective approach to fashion creation — an approach whose ultimate agenda was to further access and inclusion. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026 Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. — Maya Benjamin,dan Avery, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 Hansen’s skepticism about the film has not kept him from utilizing the attention. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for utilize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for utilize
  1. use
  2. apply
  3. exploit
  4. employ
Verb
  • Operators can also continue using diesel when hydrogen supplies are unavailable.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Razorbill brings that experience to one of the industry's most recognizable blade profiles, using extensive CNC machining to make geometry itself part of both the product's performance and its appearance.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of use
Verb
  • Fall Cool-season grasses benefit most from fertilizer applied in the fall.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Contrary to popular belief, applying ice or using a tourniquet can worsen the effects of a venomous snakebite by slowing blood flow.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of apply
Verb
  • Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a new processor attack that can bypass defenses in Intel and AMD chips by exploiting a security gap lasting only a handful of instructions.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Other Surrealists, meanwhile, seemed to take from animals a license to exploit other (generally female) bodies, as in Clovis Trouille’sJustine(1937), in which both a naked female figure and a lion are bound and captive.
    — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of exploit
Verb
  • This metric measures the proportion of the working-age population that is either employed or actively seeking employment.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The same restraint applies to professors, who will not be permitted to employ AI to write syllabuses or course materials.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of employ

Browse Nearby Words

utilizations
utilize
utilized
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Cite this Entry

“Utilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/utilize. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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