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

Analysts who spoke to ABC News acknowledged the difficulty in predicting when the most severe effects of the ballooning debt may materialize but warned that regardless of the answer, the current trajectory is unsustainable. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

For example, the winter of 2015-2016 brought a strong El Niño, but rain did not materialize in California. — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

However, any cross-party agreement to examine or target borrowing in order to reduce debt is yet to materialize. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026

The full effects of the disaster in Iran will take time to materialize. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 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