realize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
realizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
realized,
past participle, past
-
realizing
present participle
-
to grasp or understand clearly.
- Synonyms:
- comprehend, conceive
- Antonyms:
- misunderstand
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to make real; give reality to (a hope, fear, plan, etc.).
- Synonyms:
- effect, accomplish
-
to bring vividly to the mind.
-
to convert into cash or money.
to realize securities.
-
to obtain as a profit or income for oneself by trade, labor, or investment.
-
to bring as proceeds, as from a sale.
The goods realized $1000.
-
Music. to sight-read on a keyboard instrument or write out in notation the full harmony and ornamentation indicated by (a figured bass).
-
Linguistics. to serve as an instance, representation, or embodiment of (an abstract linguistic element or category).
In “Jack tripped,” the subject is realized by “Jack,” the predicate by “tripped,” and the past tense by “-ed.”
verb (used without object)
-
realizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
realized,
past participle, past
-
realizing
present participle
verb
-
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to become conscious or aware of (something)
-
(tr, often passive) to bring (a plan, ambition, etc) to fruition; make actual or concrete
-
(tr) to give (something, such as a drama or film) the appearance of reality
-
(tr) (of goods, property, etc) to sell for or make (a certain sum)
this table realized £800
-
(tr) to convert (property or goods) into cash
-
(tr)
-
to expand or complete (a thorough-bass part in a piece of baroque music) by supplying the harmonies indicated in the figured bass
-
to reconstruct (a composition) from an incomplete set of parts
-
-
to sound or utter (a phoneme or other speech sound) in actual speech; articulate
Synonym Usage
See imagine.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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realizabilitynoun
-
realizablenessnoun
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realizationnoun
-
realizernoun
-
hyperrealizeverb (used with object)
-
prerealizeverb (used with object)
-
underrealizeverb (used with object)
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unrealizeverb (used with object)
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nonrealizableadjective
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nonrealizingadjective
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realizableadjective
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realizablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
realizesimple
-
realizessimple
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have realizedperfect
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has realizedperfect
-
am realizingprogressive
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are realizingprogressive
-
is realizingprogressive
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have been realizingperfect progressive
-
has been realizingperfect progressive
Past
-
realizedsimple
-
had realizedperfect
-
was realizingprogressive
-
were realizingprogressive
-
had been realizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of realize
First recorded in 1605–15; from French réaliser, Middle French, equivalent to real real 1 + -iser -ize
Explanation
When you realize something, you become fully aware of what is happening, like when you realize all the people in your basement who are smiling at you and starting to sing to you are there because it's your birthday. Surprise! Realize usually describes the moment your thoughts click, like the moment you close the door behind you, you realize you don't have your keys. You are locked out! So you knock on your neighbor's door. You realize, here meaning that you are fully aware, that she might not appreciate having to help you because she's trying to leave for work. You tell her your new goal is to be more organized. She says, until you realize, or reach, that goal, you better hide an extra key somewhere in your yard.
Vocabulary lists containing realize
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
And as I sit and listen to her, I realize something.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
What Waititi fails to realize is that he’s not punching up or down, but laterally.
From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026
But voters care more about results than identity, she said — something the Latino political class has been slow to realize.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
I realize this is still a very new situation, but again – I’m curious about the pros and cons.
From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026
Gingersnipes seemed to realize that Clare would not surrender in this quest.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
The story takes a surprising, bittersweet turn, and Ms. Hepola realizes she’s in a contest she can’t win.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Your stepmother, whether she realizes it or not, is acting out of fear.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
The Marvel Cinematic Universe can only expand so many times before one realizes it’s not actually going anywhere.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
It says the deal realizes value for the asset and removes risks related to operating in Papua New Guinea.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Holding it up to his face, Scoob realizes with a start: he can see right through it.
From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone
ConocoPhillips COP 2.34%increase; green up pointing triangle reported higher profit in the recent quarter, boosted by a 32% jump in average realized oil prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
"But over time I've realized that whether he's executed has absolutely nothing to do with my recovery or with real public safety," she said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
This makes the approach different from theoretical concepts that cannot be realized until scientists develop entirely new materials or manufacturing techniques.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026
Also, I realized roughly around that time was the first time I ever played with Underworld.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
Too late, I realized my misstep—Anna May had wanted to use my arrival as an excuse to end the interview, and I’d botched that for her.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
It’s impossible to watch one, let alone all three, without realizing that Schoenbrun has a lot on their mind, sometimes too much for a single film to bear.
From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2026
Jackson remembers watching his mother on days she picked up her paycheck and realizing that “you go get money for your time working, and then it’s time to pay bills and get food.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026
Luz Marte, a 38-year-old lab technician, bought her house a year ago, without realizing the site was a data center.
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026
Companies “are realizing that now, more than ever, eyes are on us,” Gonzalez said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
Frankie had risen to his feet without me realizing it.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
