Standard Lemma guide

utilize

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈjuː.tɪ.laɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, General-American: /ˈju.tə.laɪz/
  • Canada, General-American: [ˈju.ɾə.laɪz]
  • Australian: /ˈjʉː.tə.lɑez/
  • Australian: [ˈjʉː.ɾə.lɑez]
  • CMU ARPABET: Y UW1 T AH0 L AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

US, Canada, and Oxford British English standard spelling of utilise.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The scientists utilized advanced technology in their research.
  • We must utilize our resources more efficiently.
  • The program can be utilized for educational purposes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

convert (from an investment trust to a unit trust)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, exchange, commute, convert

3

verb

Meaning 3

put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • use your head!
  • we only use Spanish at home
  • I can't use this tool
  • Apply a magnetic field here
  • This thinking was applied to many projects
  • How do you utilize this tool?
  • I apply this rule to get good results
  • use the plastic bags to store the food
  • He doesn't know how to use a computer

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: use, utilise, apply, employ

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: give, dedicate, consecrate, commit, devote, play, pull out all the stops, put, assign, ply, address, waste, misapply, misuse, avail, overuse, overdrive, cannibalize, cannibalise, recycle, reprocess, reuse, exploit, work, tap, strain, extend, exert, exercise, enjoy, take, share, put to work, implement, fall back, resort, recur

History

Etymology

From French utiliser, from Italian utilizzare, from utile (“useful”), from Latin ūtilis, from ūtī (“use”).