# utilized

/ˈjutəˌɫaɪzd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/utilized
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to use something effectively

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to use something in a way that is helpful or effective.

For teachers: to make practical and effective use of a resource, tool, or strategy. Often implies using something for a purpose other than its original design.

- The team utilized the extra time to double-check their work before the deadline.
- The researchers utilized a combination of qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to ensure the validity of their findings.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

Teaching tip: In many contexts, 'use' is a better choice. 'Utilize' is best reserved for when you are describing how something was put to a specific, practical use or repurposed.

### 2. being put to use

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

describes something that is currently being used for a task.

For teachers: functioning in a state of being employed or put to work. Used as a participial adjective to describe resources currently in operation.

- The fully utilized factory was running twenty-four hours a day.
- The report highlighted that only sixty percent of the available office space was utilized during the summer months.

Usage: Often appears as a predicative adjective or as part of a passive construction.

## Examples

- The team utilized new software to finish the project faster.
- The farmers utilized a modern irrigation system to keep their crops healthy during the long summer drought.
- By the end of the fiscal year, the department had successfully utilized its entire budget to upgrade the laboratory facilities and hire two additional researchers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.