Meanings
present singular third person utilises · participle present utilising · participle past utilised · past utilised · alternative utilize
- UKtransitiveTo make use of; to use.
The bodywork employs, where possible, the same constructional methods as for the standard B.R. coaching stock, in order to utilise existing jigs and press tools.
1959 March, “The 2,500 h.p. electric locomotives for the Kent Coast electrification”, in Trains Illustrated, page 125 - UKtransitiveTo make useful; to find a practical use for.
- UKtransitiveTo make best use of; to use to its fullest extent, potential, or ability.
1 more example
Since then we have had the opportunity to travel in them and were much impressed by the internal styling and comfort of the seating (with the minor exception of the single seats which have been tucked in longitudinally alongside some of the entrance vestibules and which are so cramped that only the slimmest of female figures could be comfortable in them; the space they occupy would have been better utilised to increase standing room).
1960 December, “The Glasgow Suburban Electrification is opened”, in Trains Illustrated, page 715
Synonyms & antonyms
verbput into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinūtilis
- Italianutilizzare
- Frenchutiliser
- Englishutilise
From French utiliser, from Italian utilizzare, from utile (“useful”), from Latin ūtilis, from ūtī (“use”). Attested c. 1810.
More words from French, Italian, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic اِسْتَعْمَلَ
- اِسْتَعْمَلَ (istaʕmala)to make use of; to use
Bulgarian използвам, употребявам
- използвам (izpolzvam)to make use of; to use
- употребявам (upotrebjavam)to make use of; to use
- оползотворявам (opolzotvorjavam)to make useful, to find a practical use for
- оползотворявам (opolzotvorjavam)to make best use of; to use to its fullest extent, potential, or ability
- служа си с (služa si s)to make do with; to use in manner different from that originally intended
Dutch gebruiken, toepassen
- gebruikento make use of; to use
- toepassento make use of; to use
- zich bedienen vanto make use of; to use
Finnish käyttää, hyödyntää
- käyttääto make use of; to use
- hyödyntääto make use of; to use
- hyödyntääto make useful, to find a practical use for
- hyödyntääto make best use of; to use to its fullest extent, potential, or ability
- käyttääto make do with; to use in manner different from that originally intended
French utiliser, faire usage
- utiliserto make use of; to use
- faire usageto make use of; to use
- se servir deto make useful, to find a practical use for
- exploiterto make best use of; to use to its fullest extent, potential, or ability
- détournerto make do with; to use in manner different from that originally intended
German nutzen, einsetzen
- nutzento make use of; to use
- einsetzento make use of; to use
- verwendento make use of; to use
Greek αξιοποιώ
- αξιοποιώ (axiopoió)to make best use of; to use to its fullest extent, potential, or ability
Indonesian memanfaatkan
- memanfaatkanto make use of; to use
Latin utor, ūtilizō
- utorto make use of; to use
- ūtilizōto make use of; to use
- ūtilizōto make useful, to find a practical use for
Māori whakapau, whakamahi
- whakapauto make use of; to use
- whakamahito make use of; to use
- whakapetoto make use of; to use
Portuguese utilizar
- utilizarto make use of; to use
Russian испо́льзовать
- испо́льзовать (ispólʹzovatʹ)to make use of; to use
Scottish Gaelic dèan feum de
- dèan feum deto make use of; to use
Spanish utilizar, utilizar
- utilizarto make use of; to use
- utilizarto make useful, to find a practical use for
Turkish yararlanmak, faydalanmak
- yararlanmakto make use of; to use
- faydalanmakto make use of; to use
- istifade etmekto make use of; to use
Ukrainian використо́вувати
- використо́вувати (vykorystóvuvaty)to make use of; to use
Vietnamese tận dụng
- tận dụngto make use of; to use
Cite this entry
utilise. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/utilise
“utilise.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/utilise. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “utilise,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/utilise.
Source: utilise on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.