realize

especially British, re·al·ise

[ree-uh-lahyz]

verb (used with object)

realized, realizing 

1. to grasp or understand clearly.

   Synonyms: comprehend, conceive
   Antonyms: misunderstand

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

   Synonyms: effect, accomplish

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)

realized, realizing 

1. to convert property or goods into cash or money.

realize

/ 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

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)

   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

Other Word Forms

• realizable adjective
• realizability noun
• realizableness noun
• realizably adverb
• realizer noun
• hyperrealize verb (used with object)
• nonrealizable adjective
• nonrealizing adjective
• prerealize verb (used with object)
• underrealize verb (used with object)
• unrealize verb (used with object)
• realization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of realize¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from French réaliser, Middle French, equivalent to real real ¹ + -iser -ize

Synonym Study

See imagine.

Example Sentences

But after she bought a new house in a better school zone in the spring of 2024, she began to realize her income wasn’t going to go as far as she initially calculated.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

So I was watching a lot of YouTube at the time and I was realizing these people have fans everywhere.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

By dint of pandemic pauses and far-flung locales around the U.K.’s Cotswolds and on the Welsh Borders, the lineup managed to quietly ferment and realize some of that long-ago unknown magical mystery.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Various scenarios could be pursued to realize this value, including multiple breakup options with or without additional asset divestitures,” he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lotus Two Slice Toaster – My trusty $20 toaster recently gave up the ghost, and I didn’t realize how much I’d been settling until I dropped a bagel into the Lotus two-slice.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• comprehend 
• get 
• grasp 
• know 
• recognize 
• think 
• understand