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

• begin
• originate
• arise
• start
• appear
• commence
• be
• emerge

Examples of materialize in a Sentence

A waiter suddenly materialized beside our table.

Rain clouds materialized on the horizon.

Recent Examples on the Web

That approach has clearly worked well for Donaldson, though the university is left answering questions about a program that may never materialize. —Chris Quintana, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025

The third phase materialized over the last year and a half, and delves deeper into origin. —Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025

Somehow, two sequels have materialized to update the swooshing neon visuals and cartoony renditions of a virtual world. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025

However, political interference has stopped deals from materializing, preventing the region’s banking sector to compete more seriously with Wall Street. —Silvia Amaro,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for materialize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise

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