Synonyms

realize

American

[ree-uh-lahyz] / ˈri əˌlaɪz /

especially British, realise

verb (used with object)

to grasp or understand clearly.

Synonyms:

comprehend, conceive

Antonyms:

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

Synonyms:

effect, accomplish
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)

to convert property or goods into cash or money.

realize British

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

"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

Synonym Usage

See imagine.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

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.

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Vocabulary lists containing realize

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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.

See Examples For:

realize realizes realized realizing

There’s a world where A.I.-assisted short films could improve in quality and possibly inspire less-recognized creatives to realize their ambitions.

From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2026

I realize I’m probably giving Gluck and screenwriter Travis Braun too much credit when I say these are the kinds of questions they wanted viewers to ask.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

I realize that’s a heavy way to wrap up the week, so let’s shift gears.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

And as I’m writing this, I realize it doesn’t really matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

I realize the answer even before I’ve finished asking the question.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Eventually he realizes that he doesn’t mind “the emotional shadow that Graceland and Elvis casts over the song. In some way I think it adds an emotional punch.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

“I’ve been doing this work for 30 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. ...People from San Diego up to Eureka and Humboldt, everybody is mobilizing because everybody realizes what’s at risk.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

“He’s got his head in the game from the second he realizes half the world’s cameras are open.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

There comes a point at which a woman realizes she’s a lot closer in age to Diane Keaton in “Something’s Gotta Give” than Amanda Peet, and she’s OK with that.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

She realizes that she didn’t hear Grandpa Ed come in last night.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

Especially when I realized that what was in the bowl had begun as a five-item farmers market haul, helped along by a few things I already had at home.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

That world will not be realized on the Fairground.

From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2026

“This was largely the result of higher realized freight rates, and the company is effectively suggesting this remains strong” into the second half, they add.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

I slipped out of bed to peer into the brown bag holding my new undercover possession when I suddenly realized I didn’t remember bringing the bag home.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

But what I had not realized in solitary confinement was that to have companions meant to have their griefs as well.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Sometimes the best solution isn’t persuading someone to change their mind — it’s realizing you don’t need them to bend to your will.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

"One of the most exciting things about this work is realizing that we've surveyed many more stars than initially thought," she said.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026

“Tenants are realizing that with supply-chain volatility comes risk, and the best way to mitigate that risk is to create more diversity in the supply chain,” Steinberg said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

Just kind of enjoying where I’m at right now, and realizing I need to have success here to make it there.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

I murmur, realizing it’s literally years since I’ve been in this room.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023