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

The fight the Lakers lacked in the second half materialized early, even after Kevin Durant, returning from an injury absence of two-plus weeks, opened the game with a three. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024

In 2017, shortly after Kennedy announced that Trump had asked him to chair a commission on vaccine safety and integrity — an assignment that never materialized — Hotez was asked by NIH leaders to speak with Kennedy about his stance on vaccines. —Brenda Goodman, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024

The problem is that this mirrors the same reasoning crypto proponents (and others before them) have long used to predict the rise of decentralization across digital platforms like social media, messaging, and marketplaces—predictions that have yet to materialize. —Christian Catalini, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Although a new Parent Trap has yet to materialize, Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are reuniting for Freakier Friday, a sequel to their 2003 Disney remake of the 1976 film, premiering Aug. 8, 2025 in US theaters. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 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