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self-realization

American  
[self-ree-uh-luh-zey-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlfˌri ə ləˈzeɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

  1. the fulfillment of one's potential.


self-realization British  

noun

  1. the realization or fulfilment of one's own potential or abilities

"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

Etymology

Origin of self-realization

First recorded in 1870–75

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:

It gets a little sentimental and a little serious in the clutch; there will be closure, self-realization and ego death.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 9, 2026

And while it may be dangerous to attribute specific emotions to an animal, it is fair to say that, at least on a physical level, a kind of self-realization was occurring.

From Salon Feb. 18, 2025

Trapped in this binary, Shields failed to crystallize her identity until college, and the film’s second half traces her road to self-realization thereafter.

From New York Times Apr. 3, 2023

Maturation and self-realization like baseball development aren’t linear or on a specific timetable, particularly in the cutthroat world of professional sports.

From Seattle Times Mar. 14, 2023

His aim was to grow to divine stature through self-realization.

From Paul Gauguin, His Life and Art by John Gould Fletcher

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