materialize

verb

ma·​te·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

materialized; materializing

transitive verb

1

a

: to make material : objectify

b

: to cause to appear in bodily form

materialize the spirits of the dead

2

: to cause to be materialistic

intransitive verb

1

: to assume bodily form

2

a

: to appear especially suddenly

b

: to come into existence

materializer noun

Synonyms

• actualize
• appear
• arise
• begin
• break
• commence
• dawn
• engender
• form
• originate
• set in
• spring
• start

Examples of materialize in a Sentence

A waiter suddenly materialized beside our table.

Rain clouds materialized on the horizon.

Recent Examples on the Web

The bank’s house view on US equities has failed to materialize for two consecutive years as Kolanovic remained bullish throughout much of 2022’s rout and then held a bearish stance during last year’s 24% rally in the S&P 500. —Alexandra Semenova, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024

Entertainment & Arts Review: ‘Fat Ham’ at the Geffen Playhouse slathers barbecue sauce on ‘Hamlet’ for delicious comedy April 8, 2024 Rankin’s Sally strains after dramatic effects that fail to materialize. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024

Others, including Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, still seem uncertain whether the ambitious tower will actually ever materialize. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 18 Apr. 2024

Efforts to prolong the trial, and potentially force Democrats to cast some hard votes, are now more likely to materialize without senators rushing to catch flights home. —Liz Goodwin, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

When no damaging tsunami materialized, operations quickly returned to normal. —Brad Lendon, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

Their Super League concept stands no chance of materializing in the next few years. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024

Kirby declined comment on what the consequences would be if those actions fail to materialize — or whether that could include a potential halt to U.S. military aid to Israel. —Daniel Estrin, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024

Whether a rival bid will materialize again — and whether Biden’s administration will, or can, ultimately block the Nippon Steel purchase — remains unclear. —Josh Wingrove, Bloomberg.com, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

materialize

verb

ma·​te·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

materialized; materializing

1

: to give material form and substance to

2

: to assume or cause to assume bodily form

a ghost materialized out of nowhere

3

a

: to come into existence

a promise that never materialized

b

: to appear suddenly