1
general::
use
• Do you mind if I use your phone? • They rebuilt the church using local stone. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • We are prepared to resort to force if necessary.
to use your power or your rights
exercise
formal to use your rights, authority, influence etc:
• Only 40% of the poulation exercised their right to vote. • Congress must decide whether to exercise its veto.
wield
formal to use great power or influence:
• The central banks wield enormous power.
Longman-Thesaurus
5
general::
verb ADV. carefully, efficiently | sparingly This paint is very expensive, so please use it sparingly. | indiscriminately | frequently, generally, habitually, normally, regularly, usually Do you habitually use display screen equipment as a significant part of your job? | occasionally, rarely | up The oil had all been used up. VERB + USE be easy to, be simple to These garden shears are lightweight and easy to use. | be difficult to, be hard to | be ready to | be likely to, tend to the factors that make people likely to use heroin Manufacturers tend to use disks made in the US. | decide to | intend to, plan to | attempt to, try to | allow sb to, be entitled to, let sb, permit sb to Candidates are not allowed to use dictionaries in the exam. | forbid sb to | teach sb to PREP. as The tennis court is sometimes used as a car park. | for chemicals that are used for cleaning PHRASES permission to use sth, noun using/being used ADJ. considerable, extensive, great, heavy, liberal | full, maximum He made full use of the opportunity to travel. | excessive a style of writing with an excessive use of metaphor | increased, increasing | constant, continued, daily, everyday, frequent, regular, repeated, routine the daily use of a deodorant | wide, widespread a campaign to encourage wider use of public transport | common, current, general, normal, ordinary This software is no longer in common use. | limited | occasional | appropriate, careful, clever, correct, effective, efficient, good, judicious, legitimate, optimum, proper, safe, selective Holding a lavish party was not the best use of scarce funds. an efficient use of resources an article with a judicious use of examples The layout of the furniture makes optimum use of the space available. | indiscriminate, poor | illegal, unauthorized | personal, private | external, internal This antiseptic is for external use only. | home fire extinguishers for home use | clinical, commercial, industrial | official | exclusive for the exclusive use of club members | free Guests have free use of the hotel swimming pool. | immediate Only half the land was fit for immediate use. | drug, heroin, etc. Drug use in this age group is on the increase. | land | language | energy | library VERB + USE make We made use of the car while you were away. | bring sth (back) into, come into a technology which came into use at the end of the last century | go out of The expression went out of use some time ago. PREP. for ~ This phone number is only for use in an emergency. | in ~ The phone is in constant use. PHRASES ease of use This model has been designed for greater ease of use. | for use as The record is intended for use as background music. | ready for use This room is now ready for use. purpose for which sth is used ADJ. different | new VERB + USE have This herb has a variety of uses. | find, put sth to Can you find a use for this old table? Don't throw that box away?I'm sure I could put it to some use. PHRASES a variety of uses ability/permission to use sth ADJ. full the full use of your mental faculties VERB + USE have Since his stroke he hasn't had the use of his left hand. | give sb, offer (sb) We gave them the use of our house while we were on holiday. | deny sb They denied us use of the college library. | lose | recover, regain After a while she regained the use of her fingers. PREP. ~ of She lost the use of her legs in a car accident. how useful sth is ADJ. practical VERB + USE be of Could this old coat be of use to you? | have I have no use for my golf clubs any more. PREP. of … ~ It's of no practical use to me. | ~ to Is it any use to you? PHRASES be no use It's no use running?the train has already gone.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary