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

• actualize
• appear
• arise
• begin
• break
• commence
• dawn
• engender
• form
• originate
• set in
• spring
• start

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 have also been rumors of an Avengers: Secret Wars movie bringing back all the original Avengers, but nothing has yet materialized. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024

That utterance was prophetic, but the prophecy would not materialize for decades. —Robin Keats, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024

On Thursday, a Fed official warned that interest rate cuts may not materialize in 2024, contrary to expectations of many economists, given the strong labor market and stubbornly high inflation. —Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024

The Company's expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. —Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024

In practice, those circles barely materialize; Tom, an epicurean who values beautiful objects and settings, isn’t actually much interested in the silly people who occupy them, and neither (more to the point) is the camera. —Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

Though nothing concrete has materialized from DisneylandForward, concept art for the proposal appeared to include rides and attractions based on Tangled, Frozen, and Black Panther. —EW.com, 3 Apr. 2024

Gloomy weather may have Sacramento residents wondering when spring-like conditions will materialize. —Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024

Perhaps the rainbow that materializes over Donington Park is a sign, because suddenly everything seems to come together. —Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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