Make use of means to use something that is available to you. It sounds a little more formal than plain use and stresses that the opportunity was not wasted, especially with good, full or better.
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make use of + noun; make good/full/better use of + noun
- Our team could make better use of the shared calendar to avoid double bookings.
- I made good use of the long train journey and finished my essay plan.
- Hotel guests can make use of the gym and pool free of charge.
What changed
First versionShe made a good use of her lunch break and called the bank.
RevisionShe made good use of her lunch break and called the bank.
Use here is a noun meaning benefit or purpose, and it is uncountable, so it takes no a even with an adjective: make good use of, make full use of. The article slips in by habit, as in a good idea, but with use it is not needed.
Use is the neutral verb; make use of adds the idea of getting benefit from what you have. Take advantage of is close in meaning, but about people it often means to exploit someone unfairly: He took advantage of her kindness. With things and opportunities, make use of sounds neutral.
Your turn
The library has quiet study rooms, and I try to ___ them before exams.
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make use of — This expression always takes of: make use of the rooms. Make use from mixes in the idea of getting benefit from something, but it is not used in English.
Write about a resource at work or in your studies that you don't use enough. Name it and explain how you could make better use of it.
I could make better use of our company's online courses by taking one short lesson every morning before work.
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