realize

[ ree-uh-lahyz ]
See synonyms for: realizerealizedrealizesrealizing on Thesaurus.com

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.).

  1. to bring vividly to the mind.

  2. to convert into cash or money: to realize securities.

  3. to obtain as a profit or income for oneself by trade, labor, or investment.

  4. to bring as proceeds, as from a sale: The goods realized $1000.

  5. Music. to sight-read on a keyboard instrument or write out in notation the full harmony and ornamentation indicated by (a figured bass).

  6. 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.

Origin of realize

1
First recorded in 1605–15; from French réaliser, Middle French, equivalent to real real1 + -iser -ize
  • Also especially British, re·al·ise .

synonym study For realize

3. See imagine.

Other words for realize

Opposites for realize

Other words from realize

  • re·al·iz·a·ble, adjective
  • re·al·iz·a·bil·i·ty [ree-uh-lahyz-uh-bil-i-tee], /ri əˌlaɪz əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, re·al·iz·a·ble·ness, noun
  • re·al·iz·a·bly, adverb
  • re·al·iz·er, noun
  • hy·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, adjective
  • non·re·al·iz·ing, adjective
  • pre·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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use realize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for realize

realize

realise

/ (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

  1. (tr) to give (something, such as a drama or film) the appearance of reality

  2. (tr) (of goods, property, etc) to sell for or make (a certain sum): this table realized £800

  3. (tr) to convert (property or goods) into cash

  4. (tr) (of a musicologist or performer)

    • to expand or complete (a thorough-bass part in a piece of baroque music) by supplying the harmonies indicated in the figured bass

    • to reconstruct (a composition) from an incomplete set of parts

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

Derived forms of realize

  • realizable or realisable, adjective
  • realizably or realisably, adverb
  • realization or realisation, noun
  • realizer 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