realize

verb re·al·ize \ ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: realize in a Sentence

Definition of realize

realized; realizing

transitive verb

1 a : to bring into concrete existence : accomplish

finally realized her goal

b : to cause to seem real : make appear real

a book in which the characters are carefully realized

2 a : to convert into actual money

realized assets

b : 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

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realizable

play \ˌrē-ə-ˈlī-zə-bəl\ adjective

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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

If editors had realized the connection, the incident would not have been included, or would have been described differently.

— gabriella paiella, The Cut, "This Correction in a New York Times Article About Vagina Selfies Is Really Something," 13 July 2018
Noah Karvelis, one of the leaders of Arizona Educators United, said that effort came from teachers realizing that the Legislature adjourned without meeting the demands laid out ahead of the April walkout.

— richard ruelas, azcentral, "Arizona elections: #RedForEd, public education issues make way onto November ballot," 12 July 2018
Both halves of the duo realize this, as their respective mile-long stares signal.

— refinery29.com, "Is Younger Setting The Stage For A Liza-Josh Reunion?," 11 July 2018
Catalini believes the profs rubbing elbow patches with blockchain fanatics could help realize more of the young industry’s dreams.

— tom simonite, WIRED, "How a Startup Is Using the Blockchain to Protect Your Privacy," 11 July 2018
No one with any shred of humanity would carry out such a ludicrous plan; Brolin, perhaps realizing this, plays Graver with all the gravitas of a malfunctioning robot.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Sicario: Day of the Soldado," 2 July 2018
Apparently, black people have more in common with the cops that patrol their neighborhoods than anyone realized.

— ben joravsky, Chicago Reader, "News / Politics / Poverty / Race Father Pfleger, top cop Johnson, and a tinge of hope for the city’s future," 13 July 2018
So asylum rights favor El Salvadorans relative to Eritreans, at least once people realize there is an incentive to try to migrate north.

— WSJ, "Notable & Quotable: Does Asylum Make Sense?," 9 July 2018
Stamps with the Las Vegas image were in circulation for at least three months before the Postal Service realized the mistake — 3 billion were printed.

— ashley may, USA TODAY, "Postal Service misidentifies Statue of Liberty in stamp in a $3.5 million mistake," 6 July 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1611

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

realize Synonyms

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.