realize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to grasp or understand clearly.
- Synonyms:
- comprehend, conceive
- Antonyms:
- misunderstand
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to make real; give reality to (a hope, fear, plan, etc.).
- Synonyms:
- effect, accomplish
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to bring vividly to the mind.
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to convert into cash or money.
to realize securities.
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to obtain as a profit or income for oneself by trade, labor, or investment.
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to bring as proceeds, as from a sale.
The goods realized $1000.
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Music. to sight-read on a keyboard instrument or write out in notation the full harmony and ornamentation indicated by (a figured bass).
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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)
verb
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(when tr, may take a clause as object) to become conscious or aware of (something)
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(tr, often passive) to bring (a plan, ambition, etc) to fruition; make actual or concrete
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(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
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(tr) to convert (property or goods) into cash
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(tr)
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to expand or complete (a thorough-bass part in a piece of baroque music) by supplying the harmonies indicated in the figured bass
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to reconstruct (a composition) from an incomplete set of parts
-
-
to sound or utter (a phoneme or other speech sound) in actual speech; articulate
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Because her late husband had managed all the finances, she hadn’t realized the cost of their lifestyle—including their insurance, car payments, housing, children’s tuition and smaller recurring costs such as subscriptions.
Gu realized that if natural polymers can perform their function and then disappear, human-made plastics might be able to do the same.
From Science Daily
Last October, I decided to make the perilous journey through all five “Scary Movie” films after realizing that I’d never seen a single one in its entirety — only a collection of well-known bits.
From Salon
Over the summer, representatives for the UPS Store reached out to Guinness World Records after realizing it could qualify for a title.
From Los Angeles Times
Their responses can subtly highlight certain viewpoints while minimizing others, often without users realizing it.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
