realize

play

verb re·al·ize \ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz\

Definition of realize

realized

;

realizing

transitive verb
1a : to bring into concrete existence : accomplish finally realized her goalb : to cause to seem real : make appear real a book in which the characters are carefully realized
2a : to convert into actual money realized assetsb : to bring or get by sale, investment, or effort : gain realized a large profit
3 : to conceive vividly as real : be fully aware of did not realize the risk she was taking

realizable

play \ˌrē-ə-ˈlī-zə-bəl\ adjective

realizer

noun

See realize defined for English-language learners

See realize defined for kids

Examples of realize in a Sentence

They did not realize the risk that was involved.
He finally realized the scope of the problem.
She realizes how much things have changed.
Do you realize how difficult that stunt is?
You just have to realize that you can't always get what you want.
She slowly realized what he was trying to say.
He realized a lifelong dream by winning an Olympic medal.
He finally realized his ambition to start his own business.

Recent Examples of realize from the Web

Folks don’t realize that there are limitations in the body form.

— barry michael cooper, New York Times, "The Fashion Outlaw Dapper Dan", 3 June 2017
How long until our regional partners, though, wake up and realize this?

— andrew exum, The Atlantic, "How Do America's Middle Eastern Allies Like Trump Now?", 3 June 2017
That God gave every woman gifts, and the agency to realize those gifts, and that nothing about choosing to terminate a pregnancy or to delay childbearing puts a woman outside of God’s love.

— nicole brodeur, The Seattle Times, "Dr. Willie Parker on Christianity and abortion: ‘No God I believe in would judge this woman’", 2 June 2017
The Warriors, West said, are realizing how superfluous risky passes are.

— adam kilgore, chicagotribune.com, "One stat shows how badly the Warriors want to crush the Cavaliers", 2 June 2017
Promises that the treatment of blacks in the U.S. had changed were not realized, and her vocal opposition led to her being replaced by Gypsy Rose Lee.

— philip potempa, Post-Tribune, "Josephine Baker's life, career and cautions recalled on stage", 30 May 2017
On the surface, a long ago wish of a utopian community that Fairhope's founders envisioned more than 120 years ago, seems to have been realized.

— john sharp, AL.com, "What is wrong with Fairhope? Fast growing city's politics filled with tension and division", 30 May 2017
That euphoria was eclipsed only by the sinking disappointment of realizing none of it was real.

— laura brounstein, Esquire, "'Originals' Author Adam Grant Explains the One Trip That Changed His Life", 26 May 2017
Few doctors, patients, or government officials realized the extent of Alexion’s influence within AFAG, three former company managers say.

— benjamin elgin, Bloomberg.com, "When the Patient Is a Gold Mine: The Trouble With Rare-Disease Drugs", 24 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of realize

French réaliser, from Middle French realiser, from real real

First Known Use: circa 1611

Synonym Discussion of realize

think, conceive, imagine, fancy, realize, envisage, envision mean to form an idea of. think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection. I just thought of a good joke conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design. conceived of a new marketing approach imagine stresses a visualization. imagine you're at the beach fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires. fancied himself a super athlete realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined. realized the enormity of the task ahead envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed. envisaged a totally computerized operation envisioned a cure for the disease

REALIZE Defined for English Language Learners

realize

play

verb

Definition of realize for English Language Learners

: to understand or become aware of (something)
: to cause (something) to become real
: to achieve (something, such as a goal, dream, etc.)

REALIZE Defined for Kids

realize

play

verb re·al·ize \ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz\

Definition of realize for Students

realized

;

realizing

1 : to be aware of : understand Do they realize the danger?
2 : to bring into being : accomplish The war looked like my chance to realize my old dream of flying. — Richard Peck, A Long Way from Chicago
3 : to get as a result of effort : gain Will your business realize a profit?

Law Dictionary

realize

play

transitive verb re·al·ize \ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz\

Legal Definition of realize

realized

realizing

1 : to convert into money
2 : to obtain or incur (as a gain or loss) especially as the result of a sale, exchange, or other disposition of an asset realized a loss when the house was sold — compare recognize