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

• 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

With seven weeks remaining, a plethora of scenarios could materialize. —Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025

During the last Super Bowl, the city allocated $2 million for events for residents with the goal of recouping that via private fundraising that largely never materialized. —Grace Hase, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025

But that plan never materialized. —Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

The next night, however, Obama’s final-night speech was hastily shifted from the massive Bank of America Stadium to the comparably cozy arena, potentially shutting out as many as 50,000 supporters — due to a storm that never materialized. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025

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