realize

verb re·al·ize \ ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

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

The original idea to send a week’s worth of food to students for $150 was upended when the company realized its boxes contained far more than a typical mini-fridge could hold.

— janelle nanos, BostonGlobe.com, "Food delivery right to your dorm door: How some campus dining halls are competing with GrubHub," 5 Apr. 2018
The Vietnam War draft was a constant threat, something Jackson realized after his cousin was killed there in 1967.

— christian holub, EW.com, "Samuel L. Jackson shares how Martin Luther King Jr.'s death led him to activism," 3 Apr. 2018
Our editors recently tested the Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle and quickly realized the sheets were a game-changer for both warm and cold sleepers.

— banu ibrahim, CNN Underscored, "Luxury linens that are worth the price," 28 Mar. 2018
After toiling for losing teams in Sacramento, and turning 30 years old in August, Collison realized his career was at a crossroads.

— clifton brown, Indianapolis Star, "A conversation with former MVP Steve Nash helps Darren Collison blossom with Pacers," 24 Mar. 2018
Archaeologists realized the carving must be part of Templo Mayor, the Great Temple of the Aztec Empire, known to lie somewhere below the city center based on colonial-era accounts and previous limited digging projects.

— bridget alex, Discover Magazine, "The Great Aztec Temple," 23 Mar. 2018
Progressive groups and political strategists that had flocked to the area for the Jones race quickly realized how much untapped energy existed among Democrats who were women, African-American or both.

— NBC News, "Record number of black women are candidates in Alabama," 23 Mar. 2018
Both women realized long ago that success starts with being at ease in their skin, and yes, their clothes as well.

— daisy melamed sanders, Marie Claire, "These Two Women Will Give You a Confidence-Infusion," 22 Mar. 2018
Over time, researchers realized that some older problems of mathematics were actually special cases of the extended programme.

— davide castelvecchi, Scientific American, "“Grand Unified Theory of Math” Nets Abel Prize," 20 Mar. 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

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.