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

Following the movie's enduring success, Fey and the cast have long received questions about potentially continuing the film's story in a sequel, though nothing has materialized to date. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025

Save the date: Materialists is set to materialize in theaters on June 13, 2025. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025

At the time, the group pledged to release a unified statement, but the statement never materialized, at least not publicly. —Nana Ama Sarfo, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

The wave of initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions has been slower to materialize. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 16 Mar. 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