realize

verb

re·​al·​ize ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce realize (audio)
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
realizable adjective
realizer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web Apply now and take the next step toward realizing your entrepreneurial vision. Ebony Flake, Essence, 20 Mar. 2024 But the people who say that probably haven’t had cable in six, seven years and don’t realize how expensive cable has gotten. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024 Hardman and Dugan realized this wasn’t a series of individual thefts or even some small-scale shoplifting scam. Jeannette Neumann, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 Lynch realized early on in his career that the differences between higher- and lower-yield crops were only exacerbated in poor conditions. Maddie Bender, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024 After realizing that these episodes are not the result of a mental or physical imbalance, Gaby will start to fight to change her daughter’s future with the help of Andrés, a police inspector who has had a similar experience to her own. Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 The stark intensity of his images and the expressive clarity of the lead performance, by Maria Falconetti, give birth to an instantly avant-garde cinema that’s also a synthesis of the classical arts—a literary tragedy realized with the torque of theatrical artifice and a painter’s precision. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 That came after realizing many of the kids attending the library's after-school programs were hungry and many parents asked for information about local food banks and other resources, Winlock said. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 The elder player grits his teeth and pumps his fist in frustration, realizing defeat lies ahead. Clarence Williams, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'realize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French réaliser, from Middle French realiser, from real real

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of realize was circa 1611

Cite this Entry

“Realize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realize. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

realize

verb
re·​al·​ize ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce realize (audio)
ˈri-ə-
realized; realizing
1
: to bring into being : accomplish
realize a lifelong ambition
2
: to get by sale or effort : gain
realize a profit
3
: to be aware of
realized their danger
realizable adjective
realization
ˌrē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən
ˌri-ə-
noun

Legal Definition

realize

transitive verb
re·​al·​ize ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce realize (audio)
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
realization noun

More from Merriam-Webster on realize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!