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

More important for our purpose, J&J expects the magical 4% number to materialize in 2048! —Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

The transaction never materialized as the agreement came at a time when the U.S. government was clamping down on Chinese involvement in the domestic tech sector. —Cj Haddad, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024

Harris also pledged to not let another Foxconn situation happen in Wisconsin, where promised manufacturing jobs never materialized despite heavy investment from the state. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2024

After leading by as many as 19 in the first half, the Clippers again were left scrambling for an advantage in the waning moments of the game, an edge that never materialized. —Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 1 Nov. 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