Distinguishing Between the Usage of Use & Utilize

Use and Utilize are verbs that have similar yet different meanings so as not to be confused with each other. When you are at a shop and realize you have left your mobile at home, you ask for permission to use the phone. Use means to employ an object for a specific purpose for which it is meant. On the other hand, to utilize is to make use of something for a purpose for which it is unintended for. In daily life, if you are not sure, it is better make use of ‘USE’ rather than ‘UTILIZE’ and no one finds fault with your English. If there indeed are subtle differences between use and utilize, they are not known to a majority of the population that makes use of these words interchangeably.

Key Takeaways

• Use is a very common word that is used frequently by people and everyone understands its meaning, which is to employ something for a particular purpose.
• Utilize is a verb that is used in place of use in situations and for things that are used for purposes other than for what they are meant.
• Use and utilize are words with similar meanings though use can be used in all situations, whereas utilize is made use of in certain situations only when you put to use something for a purpose unintended for.