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

"The previous results are quite promising in the preclinical context, but comprehensive pharmacological development, toxicological experiments, and clinical studies are needed to realize a possible application in humans," he says.

From Science Daily

Looking back, Mr. Purvis realizes that the old guard made a comeback right under his nose.

From The Wall Street Journal

And so he used “this storyline to encourage the new generation to realize that they have many more opportunities and the ability to be more impactful and move upwards socioeconomically.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“Nebraska has never won a tournament game. We realize that,” Hoiberg said before the first round.

From The Wall Street Journal

Noonan did not realize the comet was breaking up until he reviewed the images the following day.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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