EN

Synonyms for utilize

Most common

use employ exploit apply

All synonyms

Verb

Definitions

  1. v. 1

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

    We must utilize our resources more efficiently.

Related words

Word family
utilization
Other spellings
utilise UK

Forms

Past participle
utilized
e.g. utilized → used, employed, exploited, applied…

Example sentences

  • apply I didn't apply for the job that Tom told me about.
  • employ The company has unofficially decided to employ me.
  • exploit The country has resources, but can't exploit them.
  • exert Man has always tried to exert control over nature.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
utilizefalling
applysteady
employfalling
exploitrising
exertsteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
use1
4 letters
work1
5 letters
apply2, brook1, exert2
6 letters
employ2
7 letters
exploit2
8 letters
practice2, practise2

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (apply2 = 2 syllables).