realize

American  

[ree-uh-lahyz] / ˈri əˌlaɪz /

especially British, realise

verb (used with object)

realized, realizing

1. to grasp or understand clearly.

   Synonyms:

   comprehend , conceive

   Antonyms:

   misunderstand

2. to make real; give reality to (a hope, fear, plan, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   effect , accomplish

3. to bring vividly to the mind.

4. to convert into cash or money.

   to realize securities.

5. to obtain as a profit or income for oneself by trade, labor, or investment.

6. to bring as proceeds, as from a sale.

   The goods realized $1000.

7. Music.  to sight-read on a keyboard instrument or write out in notation the full harmony and ornamentation indicated by (a figured bass).

8. 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.”

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verb (used without object)

realized, realizing

1. to convert property or goods into cash or money.

realize British  

/ ˈrɪəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to become conscious or aware of (something)

2. (tr, often passive) to bring (a plan, ambition, etc) to fruition; make actual or concrete

3. (tr) to give (something, such as a drama or film) the appearance of reality

4. (tr) (of goods, property, etc) to sell for or make (a certain sum)

   this table realized £800

5. (tr) to convert (property or goods) into cash

6. (tr)

   1. to expand or complete (a thorough-bass part in a piece of baroque music) by supplying the harmonies indicated in the figured bass

   2. to reconstruct (a composition) from an incomplete set of parts

7. to sound or utter (a phoneme or other speech sound) in actual speech; articulate

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Related Words

See imagine.

Other Word Forms

• hyperrealize verb (used with object)
• nonrealizable adjective
• nonrealizing adjective
• prerealize verb (used with object)
• realizability noun
• realizable adjective
• realizableness noun
• realizably adverb
• realization noun
• realizer noun
• underrealize verb (used with object)
• unrealize verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of realize

First recorded in 1605–15; from French réaliser, Middle French, equivalent to real real ¹ + -iser -ize

Example Sentences

It didn’t take long for the engineers on the pit wall to realize that they had handed Verstappen a huge advantage.

From The Wall Street Journal

What is the reaction you get when people realize they’re complaining to you?

From The Wall Street Journal

Japan’s Nikkei stock index slumped after Ueda said Monday that the BOJ would continue to raise the policy rate and degree of monetary accommodation if the outlook for economic activity and prices is realized.

From The Wall Street Journal

Instead, her clients these days are mostly foreign brands that have been in China for some time, but now realize they need to revamp their strategies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Better to realize this now, rather than discover after great effort and expense that you have made a mistake.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• comprehend
• get
• grasp
• know
• recognize
• think
• understand