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 of materialize

• begin
• originate
• arise
• start
• appear
• commence
• be
• emerge

Examples of materialize in a Sentence

A waiter suddenly materialized beside our table.

Rain clouds materialized on the horizon.

Recent Examples on the Web

At the time, Turner had sought to purchase a broadcast TV network, including CBS, but no deal ever materialized. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 May 2026

There’s no trace of anything strummed or plucked; clusters of tone simply materialize out of thin air, as capricious as weather. —Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026

The cost savings have not materialized. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026

Historically, Schlesinger said, realizing organic growth meant investing significant capital upfront, taking on risk before revenues or cash flows ever materialize. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 6 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for materialize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

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