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Synonyms

realize

American

[ree-uh-lahyz] / ˈri əˌlaɪz /

especially British, realise

verb (used with object)

to grasp or understand clearly.

Synonyms:

comprehend, conceive

Antonyms:

misunderstand
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)

to convert property or goods into cash or money.

realize British

/ ˈrɪəˌlaɪz /

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See imagine.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

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.

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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:

realize realizes realized realizing

But I moved to a different state this year, and, in finding a new provider, I didn’t realize this would be an issue.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

“I think the cycling world doesn’t realize how important the team is and how hard it is for the team that is riding for the yellow jersey—and also the white jersey,” Pogacar said on Saturday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

“We do have to realize he is a wild and free eagle, and it is up to Shadow what direction he goes,” the post states.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

In the longer term, Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which Greer tapped to impose the latest duties, provides "more flexibility than people realize," Majerus said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

I glance at it, try to see what he wants while she’s talking, but then I realize she’s stopped.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

It drives a lot of people nuts, but I don’t mind it, it’s quite entertaining, especially when the “injured” player realizes nobody cares and pops right up again, Lazarus-style, and rejoins the action.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

Goodwin herself is steeped in retirement-planning knowledge and feels prepared — but realizes it’s still very precarious out there for women.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

But she quickly realizes that their memories of the man are far from perfect.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

In the pilot, for example, the family’s abuela rushes to Albertsons to stock up on avocados and realizes before leaving that she also needs a new bottle of P&G’s Head & Shoulders shampoo.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

She remains distracted as she walks, considering the cards, but she slowly realizes that she is rather warm.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

She continued that she had realized, in retrospect, that the third offer came when it was supposed to come.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

Reflecting back, she realized the point is to learn how to communicate well with the people around you, even if the lack of clarity is frustrating.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

In 1982, Il Yeon Kwon, a Korean immigrant, realized that New Yorkers needed a reliable source for napa cabbage, the essential ingredient in kimchi, and opened a small grocery store in Queens.

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026

He realized he needed a video verification, meaning he had to get on a video call with an ID.me representative to show that he was who he said he was.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

When they reached the river, Clare realized he’d forgotten to account for the recent heavy rains.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

But now with the suspension of the agency managing these dollars, realizing a contract feels even more elusive.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

One of the worst parts of hosting is realizing that you missed the entire party.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

It also said that “mild to moderate dehydration can build gradually across the day for most people, often without realizing it, and thirst is not always a reliable signal.”

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026

Worst case: blank stare, polite nonrecognition and the humiliation of realizing he doesn’t remember me.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Benji was quickly realizing that millions of dollars didn’t really give a twelve-year-old independence.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023