u ‧ til ‧ ize AC BrE AmE ( also utilise British English ) /ˈjuːtəlaɪz, ˈjuːtɪlaɪz/ verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ utilize ; noun : ↑ utilization ; adjective : ↑ utilizable ]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: French ; Origin: utiliser , from utile 'useful' ]
formal to use something for a particular purpose:
We must consider how best to utilize what resources we have.
—utilizable adjective
—utilization /ˌjuːtəlaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n, ˌjuːtɪlaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n $ -lə-/ noun [uncountable]
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In everyday English, people usually say use rather than utilize :
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The money will be used to build a new sports hall.
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THESAURUS
▪ use :
Do you mind if I use your phone?
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They rebuilt the church using local stone.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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We are prepared to resort to force if necessary.