materialize

verb

ma·te·ri·al·ize | \ mə-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌlīz

materialized; materializing

Definition of materialize

transitive verb

1a : 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

2a : to appear especially suddenly

b : to come into existence

Other Words from materialize Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about materialize

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Examples of materialize in a Sentence

A waiter suddenly materialized beside our table. Rain clouds materialized on the horizon.

Recent Examples on the Web

There were a spate of rumors ahead of today’s event that didn’t materialize into new products. — Mike Murphy, Quartz, "Everything Apple announced at today’s September event," 10 Sep. 2019 Adaura unwittingly became one of tens of thousands of vulnerable Nigerian girls trafficked across Africa and Europe by criminal networks that lure them with job offers that never materialize. — Bukola Adebayo, CNN, "Rescued trafficked women held in 'abhorrent' conditions in Nigerian shelters, new report says," 27 Aug. 2019 The show was originally recorded for a concert film based on the Purple tour that never materialized; according to DeLeo, that video footage has since gone missing. — Ron Hart, Billboard, "Hear Stone Temple Pilots Tear Into 'Interstate Love Song' Back In 1994: Premiere," 22 Aug. 2019 The Arctic is supposed to be cold, of course, making thunderstorms—much less the dozens, perhaps hundreds of strikes that materialized near the north pole over the weekend—a rarity. — Matt Simon, WIRED, "Why Lightning Strikes in an Arctic Gone Bizarro," 13 Aug. 2019 The North African resistance was a dream that never materialized. — James Mcauley, Town & Country, "The Haunting of Paris: Georges Mandel and the Long Legacy of Nazi Violence," 6 Aug. 2019 And how much of these additives can be consumed before harmful effects materialized? — Risa Robinson, CNN, "The way you vape could make it even more dangerous," 16 Sep. 2019 And how much of these additives can be consumed before harmful effects materialized? — Risa Robinson, The Conversation, "How a person vapes, not just what a person vapes, could also play a big role in vaping harm," 13 Sep. 2019 Fonseca was known for his depictions of Coyote, a canine trickster who materializes in all manner of very human settings. — Los Angeles Times, "Datebook: Stark domestic scenes by German painter Lenz Geerk," 13 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'materialize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.