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

The Climb’s financing never materialized, prep was ceased, and by January 2025, the whole venture collapsed when rights to the film lapsed. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 June 2026

That margin could still end up materializing in the upcoming general election after accounting for where Mikels’ voters are likely to go. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 3 June 2026

Those concerns ultimately did not materialize. —Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2026

Much effort goes into capturing that person’s physicality but the actor’s homework shows on screen, and the character’s inner life never materializes. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 2 June 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