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
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(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
Synonym Usage
See imagine.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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realizabilitynoun
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realizablenessnoun
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realizationnoun
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realizernoun
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nonrealizableadjective
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nonrealizingadjective
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realizableadjective
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realizablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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realizesimple
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realizessimple
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have realizedperfect
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has realizedperfect
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am realizingprogressive
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are realizingprogressive
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is realizingprogressive
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have been realizingperfect progressive
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has been realizingperfect progressive
Past
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realizedsimple
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had realizedperfect
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was realizingprogressive
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were realizingprogressive
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had been realizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of realize
First recorded in 1605–15; from French réaliser, Middle French, equivalent to real real 1 + -iser -ize
Explanation
When you realize something, you become fully aware of what is happening, like when you realize all the people in your basement who are smiling at you and starting to sing to you are there because it's your birthday. Surprise! Realize usually describes the moment your thoughts click, like the moment you close the door behind you, you realize you don't have your keys. You are locked out! So you knock on your neighbor's door. You realize, here meaning that you are fully aware, that she might not appreciate having to help you because she's trying to leave for work. You tell her your new goal is to be more organized. She says, until you realize, or reach, that goal, you better hide an extra key somewhere in your yard.
Vocabulary lists containing realize
Workshop 2, Part 1
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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Ceremony
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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.
“The storm made them realize they can take advantage of this continent,” Lorenz said of the birds, which weigh about 5 pounds, form friend groups and can live at least 50 years.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026
He told me he didn’t realize the cheese was made with unpasteurized milk.
From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026
The findings suggest that improvement in later life is far more common than many people realize.
From Science Daily • Jun. 21, 2026
It’s only made me realize that one of the great joys of owning a pet is that you develop your own way of communicating, in a way that widens your vocabulary.
From Slate • Jun. 20, 2026
Gingersnipes seemed to realize that Clare would not surrender in this quest.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
