underutilize

[ uhn-der-yoot-l-ahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, un·der·u·ti·lized, un·der·u·ti·liz·ing.

1. to fail to make practical or profitable use of:

   The episodes are boring, badly paced, and completely underutilize the title character.

2. to fail to use (a machine, resource, etc.) to its full capacity:

   Most companies underutilize their data assets, but some manage to leverage them to satisfy marketplace demands.

   Many school systems significantly underutilize existing classroom space, yet continue to build new buildings.

Other Words From

• un·der·u·ti·li·za·tion [uhn-der-yoot-l-ahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underutilize¹

First recorded in 1950–55; under- + utilize

Example Sentences

At that time, federal investigators seeking to use facial recognition were limited largely to databases of “constrained” photos from passports or driver’s licenses to help identify suspects, victims and witnesses of people recorded near the scene of a crime, using slow and imprecise algorithms that tended to “severely underutilize and under-exploit all available face information in a video,” as one research filing said.

From Washington Post

"They underutilize services; they don't access care," said Aguilar-Gaxiola.

From Salon

“So, we don’t want to go as slow as the slowest ship, but we also don’t want to underutilize any resource,” she said.

From Washington Post

“I’ve been annoyed about this for years: We have these demographic patterns, we have this talent, but we underutilize our own people,” said Ms. Martinez-Kalinina, 34, who organizes the tech newcomer book club.

From New York Times

Nest storage bed Small-apartment ideas for the bedroom $3,200 on Design Within Reach Closet ideas for small apartments 3M Command nickel modern hooks Cattano says that too many small-apartment owners underutilize the inside of their closet doors.

From The Verge