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

Two years ago, a firm brought the council plans to subdivide the northwest section of the mall property to build a hotel, but that project has yet to materialize. —Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026

If that hasn’t already materialized — instantaneously. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026

This Harvey just silently materialized — slumped in a wheelchair steered by a bored-looking corrections officer. —Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026

But both cases failed to materialize into a true stagflationary environment like that of the 1970s. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for materialize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise

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