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

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.

Example Sentences

Now is not the time for tough TV viewing, I realize.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

Most seasoned adults never realize they need these documents either.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

There is so much history buried beneath the ground that we seem to forget, and once you start tunneling, you realize that it’s always been there and it hasn’t disappeared.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Comey has said he did not realize that “86,” a slang term for getting rid of something, had violent connotations.

From Slate • May 1, 2026

I still thought that I was at fault, I hadn’t been clear enough, that he must not realize he was pressing into my hip bone.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

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