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definitions

realize

[ree-uh-lahyz]
verb (used with object), re·al·ized, re·al·iz·ing.
  1. to grasp or understand clearly.
  2. to make real; give reality to (a hope, fear, plan, etc.).
  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.”
verb (used without object), re·al·ized, re·al·iz·ing.
  1. to convert property or goods into cash or money.
Also especially British, re·al·ise.

Origin of realize

1605–15; < French réaliser, Middle French, equivalent to real real1 + -iser -ize
Related formsre·al·iz·a·ble, adjectivere·al·iz·a·bil·i·ty, re·al·iz·a·ble·ness, nounre·al·iz·a·bly, adverbre·al·iz·er, nounhy·per·re·al·ize, verb (used with object), hy·per·re·al·ized, hy·per·re·al·iz·ing.non·re·al·iz·a·ble, adjectivenon·re·al·iz·ing, adjectivepre·re·al·ize, verb (used with object), pre·re·al·ized, pre·re·al·iz·ing.un·der·re·al·ize, verb (used with object), un·der·re·al·ized, un·der·re·al·iz·ing.un·re·al·ize, verb (used with object), un·re·al·ized, un·re·al·iz·ing.

Synonyms for realize

1. conceive, comprehend. 2. accomplish, effect. 3. See imagine.

Antonyms for realize

1. misunderstand.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for realise

Contemporary Examples of realise

Historical Examples of realise

  • They will know nothing of life till they do,—and natures like his can realise it.

    De Profundis

    Oscar Wilde

  • It helps one, or should help one, to realise both, and not to be too conceited about either.

    De Profundis

    Oscar Wilde

  • Simply because otherwise he would be unable to realise what he had done.

    De Profundis

    Oscar Wilde

  • Her great distress was to realise that she was alone in the obscurity at such moments.

    The Dream

    Emile Zola

  • It is not difficult to realise what a strong position this was.

British Dictionary definitions for realise

realize

realise

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) (of a musicologist or performer)
    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
Derived Formsrealizable or realisable, adjectiverealizably or realisably, adverbrealization or realisation, nounrealizer or realiser, noun
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
Word Origin and History for realise
v.

chiefly British English spelling of realize; for suffix, see -ize. Related: Realisation; realised; realising.

realize

v.

1610s, "bring into existence," from French réaliser "make real" (16c.), from Middle French real "actual" (see real (adj.)). Sense of "understand clearly, make real in the mind" is first recorded 1775. Sense of "obtain, amass" is from 1753. Related: Realized; realizing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper