utilizeu‧til‧ize (also utilise British English) /ˈjuːtəlaɪz/ ●○○ AWL verb [transitive] 
Word Origin Examples
We must consider how best to utilize what resources we have.► see thesaurus at use—utilizable adjective—utilization /ˌjuːtəlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -lə-/ noun [uncountable]RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say use rather than utilize:· The money will be used to build a new sports hall.
Word OriginWORD ORIGINutilize
Verb TableOrigin:
1800-1900 French utiliser, from utile ‘useful’VERB TABLE
utilize
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | utilize |
| he, she, it | utilizes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | utilized |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have utilized |
| he, she, it | has utilized | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had utilized |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will utilize |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have utilized |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am utilizing |
| he, she, it | is utilizing | |
| you, we, they | are utilizing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was utilizing |
| you, we, they | were utilizing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been utilizing |
| he, she, it | has been utilizing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been utilizing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be utilizing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been utilizing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Employers must utilize their workers more effectively if the region is to become an economic success.
- The old fire station could be utilized as a theater.
- According to their ability they will be able to pick and choose which clues they will utilize and which they will ignore.
- In Jeremy Bentham's Panopticon, the authorities utilized several key control structures.
- In some languages you may be able to utilize material from grammar books for these lists.
- The supervised training process utilizes the following training trials.
- With rare exceptions, very few patients either understand or utilize the data on physician credentials that are available to them.
- Worms commonly utilize network services to propagate to other host systems.
- You may be able to utilize their assistance.
THESAURUS► use
Collocations to use something for a particular purpose: · Do you mind if I use your phone?· They rebuilt the church using local stone.· We use a range of different methods.
► make use of something to use something that is available to you: · Staff can make use of a wide range of facilities.· She made full use of her contacts within the organization.
► employ formal to use a particular method or skill in order to achieve something: · The surgeons employed a new technique.· They employed every means at their disposal (=every available method).
► utilize formal to use something that is available to you, for a practical purpose: · The company has developed a new way to utilize solar energy.· a better way of utilizing the space
► exploit to use something as fully and effectively as possible, or to use something that will give you an advantage over your opponent: · The country’s natural resources have not yet been fully exploited.· He was quick to exploit any weakness in his opponent’s argument.
► apply to use something such as a method, idea, or system in a particular situation: · New technology is being applied to almost every industrial process.· I wanted to apply the things that I had learned on the course.
► draw on something to use information, knowledge, or experience that you have learned in the past: · He was able to draw on his own experience as a diplomat when he was writing the book.· Journalists draw on information from many different sources.
► resort to something to use violence, force, threats etc as a way of achieving something: · Extremists on both sides resort to violence.· We are prepared to resort to force if necessary.
Longman Language Activatorto use particular methods, knowledge, skills etc► use · Researchers often use questionnaires in their work.· I can't tell you what to do - you must use your own discretion.use something to do something · The nurse must use her communication skills to make the patient feel at ease.· These new techniques are already being used to produce special effects in films.
► make use of to use a method, skill, or piece of information that is available to you: · People asked her why she didn't make use of her musical talent and give singing lessons.· We might as well make good use of his expertise while he's here.
► put something to use to start to use something, especially knowledge or a skill that has not been used before: · Your knowledge of computers can finally be put to use when the office buys a new system next month.· When governments acquire personal information about people they always try to put it to political use.put something to good use: · I finally feel that I can put all my education to good use in this job.
► apply to use something such as a method, idea, or system in a particular situation, activity, or process: apply something to something: · New technology is being applied to almost every industrial process.· You can't apply policies designed for a big country like the United States to a small country like Cuba.apply something to do something: · There are several tests you can apply to find out how old a tree is.
► exercise to use your authority, influence etc effectively in order to achieve something: · Parents sometimes need to exercise their authority and say "no" to their children.· The Congress must decide whether to exercise its veto or not.· Many people are exercising their right to leave the state pension plan.
► utilize also utilise British formal to use something that is available to you: · Employers must utilize their workers more effectively if the region is to become an economic success.
► draw on to use information, knowledge, or experience that you have learned in the past, in order to do something more effectively: · As a teacher, she drew on her knowledge of her own children.· Journalists draw on both published and unofficial information from many different sources.· It was a challenge, but luckily we had the experience to draw on.
► exploit to use something as fully and effectively as possible in order to gain as much as possible from it: · Britain consistently fails to exploit the scientific discoveries made in its universities.· The country's natural resources have not yet been fully exploited.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► skill
Word family· They also found that on their return many women were unable to utilize the skills that they had acquired before having children.· Not only lack of skill, but lack of opportunity to utilize those skills, depressed women's rate of pay.
WORD FAMILYnounutilizationadjectiveutilizableverbutilize
formal to use something for a particular purpose: We must consider how best to utilize what resources we have.► see thesaurus at use—utilizable adjective—utilization /ˌjuːtəlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -lə-/ noun [uncountable]RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say use rather than utilize:· The money will be used to build a new sports hall.