realization
Americannoun
-
the making or being made real of something imagined, planned, etc.
-
the result of such a process.
The new church was the realization of a ten-year dream.
-
the act of realizing or the state of being realized.
-
an instance or result of realizing.
-
Music.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of realization
First recorded in 1605–15; from French réalisation; equivalent to realize + -ation
Explanation
A realization is the act of becoming completely aware of something. Many children who walk into a circus tent for the first time are struck with the realization that clowns are terrifying. A realization is a gradual or sudden understanding or comprehension of something. Another way to use the word realization is to mean the fulfillment of something that was previously only imagined, like the realization of your dream of becoming a pastry chef, or the realization on stage of the play you scribbled on napkins and scraps of paper. Realization grew out of the French réaliser, "to make real."
Vocabulary lists containing realization
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Lesson 9
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Camp Panda
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Realization of such a vision will require pragmatic shifts in our understanding of the biology of early cancer, but also shifts in our attitudes and investments.
From Scientific American • Dec. 17, 2020
Yogananda continued to travel across America, but to stay in touch with his growing number of students across the country, he created the Self Realization Fellowship Lessons, a kind of mail-order yoga and meditation school.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2020
Delteil, A., Sun, Z., Fält, S. & Imamoğlu, A. Realization of a cascaded quantum system: heralded absorption of a single photon qubit by a single-electron charged quantum dot.
From Nature • Nov. 21, 2017
Earlier in the year, Omar Khayam had beaten Hourless in the Lawrence Realization Stakes and the Brooklyn Derby.
From Washington Times • Oct. 17, 2017
Realization started to dawn on me, and I closed my eyes.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.