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
-
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
-
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.
“Markets realized that outsized spending on Capex by large tech firms and a strong economy are bullish after all,” Jamie Cox, managing partner for Harris Financial Group, wrote this afternoon.
From Barron's
“Markets realized that outsized spending on Capex by large tech firms and a strong economy are bullish after all,” Jamie Cox, managing partner for Harris Financial Group, wrote this afternoon.
From Barron's
“The overwhelming driver of alpha and private credit comes from minimizing realized credit losses and periods of credit stress put this to the test,” he said.
From Barron's
As his comments become more inflammatory, the film cuts to the increasingly nonplussed reactions of Palantine and an aide, who have realized their driver is unwell.
He claims that after the 1958 title game, 45 million people realized that nothing “had ever been better designed for TV than this particular sport.”
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.
