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to exploit

to exploit

95 4.1
To use resources or chances well to get a good result
  • verb
  • /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/
translation icon : aprovechar
  • Countries rushed in to claim it as their own, setting up research facilities to exploit its resources.
  • exploit opportunities
  • exploit potential
  • exploit new resources

And Larry said the goal is to find your uniqueness and exploit it in the service of others.

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Examples

  • Our forces are moving forward to exploit their success.

  • You find an edge, you exploit it.

  • Believing that natural gas prices would rise, U.S. gas producers also began exploiting unconventional sources.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Bigelow Aerospace is ready to exploit its long-term business plan for space habitats.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Countries rushed in to claim it as their own, setting up research facilities to exploit its resources.

  • Our forces are moving forward to exploit their success.

  • Believing that natural gas prices would rise, U.S. gas producers also began exploiting unconventional sources.

Synonyms

to use
vsto exploit
6.3

To treat someone only as a way to get what you want

is a neutral term about making things work effectively without unfairness
to take advantage
vsto exploit
549 4.6

To use a person or situation to get an unfair benefit for yourself

is ethically neutral and can be fair or unfair when gaining benefit
to take advantage of
vsto exploit
465 2.5

Use someone's trust or weakness to get something unfairly

is a neutral term for effective use without implying unfairness
to tap
vsto exploit
245 3.4

To use a resource or supply for a purpose

covers effective use in many ways, not just accessing a source
to utilize
vsto exploit
  • Formal
224 4.9

To use something for a particular purpose

is a general idea of using resources to gain benefit, not only practical use
to leverage
vsto exploit
114 5.4

To use resources such as money or influence to gain an advantage

applies more generally to making resources work effectively
to exercise
vsto exploit
  • Formal
89 3.8

Use a right or power to get a result

is about using any resources or situations effectively, not only rights or powers
to harness
vsto exploit
81 4.0

Control and use energy or strong feelings for a purpose

focuses generally on making use rather than on controlling or directing it
to capitalize
vsto exploit
76 4.9

To use a situation to get an advantage

is neutral about timing and phrasing, focusing on effective use for benefit
to cash in on
vsto exploit
30 4.4

Get money or other benefits from a situation, often unfairly

is neutral and does not imply opportunism or personal focus
to seize on
vsto exploit
19 5.3

To quickly use an idea or chance to get an advantage

is more general and can include slower or planned effective use
10 3.9

Act quickly to use a good chance

is broader and not limited to quick action, covering planned effective use
to play it for all it's worth
vsto exploit
  • Informal
7.5

Use a chance as much as possible to get the most from it

is similar but can mean ordinary effective use, not always full exploitation

Antonyms

469 1.2

Careless use of money, time, or other resources

17 4.8

To run something badly so it fails or causes problems

Compounds

zero-day exploit
  • Specialized
9.9

A hole in software that attackers use before developers release a fix

How Effective

to capitalize
76 4.9
to exploit
95 4.1
to leverage
114 5.4
to utilize
  • Formal
224 4.9
to use
1.0

Surface Forms

exploit infinitive
exploited past
exploited past participle
exploiting present participle
exploits third person singular

Etymology

The word exploit comes from an old French word esploit meaning 'a deed' and later 'to use'. So to exploit resources or chances means to make the best use of them to get a benefit.