realize

[ ree-uh-lahyz ]

/ ˈri əˌlaɪz /

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See synonyms for: realize / realized / realizes / realizing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), re·al·ized, re·al·iz·ing.

to grasp or understand clearly.

to make real; give reality to (a hope, fear, plan, etc.).

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), re·al·ized, re·al·iz·ing.

to convert property or goods into cash or money.

OTHER WORDS FOR realize

1 conceive, comprehend.

2 accomplish, effect.

See synonyms for realize on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR realize

1 misunderstand.

See antonyms for realize on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

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Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

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Also especially British, re·al·ise .

Origin of realize

First recorded in 1605–15; from French réaliser, Middle French, equivalent to real real¹ + -iser -ize

synonym study for realize

3. See imagine.

OTHER WORDS FROM realize

re·al·iz·a·ble, adjectivere·al·iz·a·bil·i·ty

[ree-uh-lahyz-uh-bil-i-tee], /ri əˌlaɪz əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, re·al·iz·a·ble·ness, nounre·al·iz·a·bly, adverbre·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, 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use realize in a sentence

Realising the end was near, he asked to be flown back to England.
Goodbye to My Hero|William Dalrymple|June 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Bruce, keenly realising the importance of the issue, bore himself with splendid valour.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
Such as this translation is I offer it with diffidence, realising that I have undertaken a difficult task.
Honey-Bee|Anatole France
In the early days of the Conservatoire, however, there was no immediate hope of realising this wish.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky

But, probably realising the futility of such a course, he changed his mind, and delivered an ultimatum from the top step.
The Gold Bat|P. G. Wodehouse
Still, wool promises to be a good price and the speculators stand a good chance of realising on their venture.
The Red Cow and Her Friends|Peter McArthur

British Dictionary definitions for realize

realize

realise

/ (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) (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

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

Derived forms of realize

realizable 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

realize

OTHER WORDS FOR realize

OPPOSITES FOR realize

Origin of realize

synonym study for realize

OTHER WORDS FROM realize

Words related to realize

How to use realize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for realize

realise

Derived forms of realize