realize
verb
re·al·ize
ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz 
realized; realizing
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
realizer
noun
Synonyms
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
Upon a review of surveillance video that showed Neese being picked up by a car at 12:30 a.m. the night of her disappearance, law enforcement realized that the victim's two friends lied in their original statements to police.
—
Kieran McGirl, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
The World Fair is proof that Milwaukee is more diverse than some realize, Gervais said.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
What inspired me to start a business was actually COVID, and just realizing that a lot of jobs that were not necessities at the time were taken away.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Their sense of whimsy and their ability to realize it in metal and stone has been hard-earned through consistent effort, decade after decade—which isn’t an entirely inaccurate definition of the horological arts.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
The series finale featured a guest performance from Sydney Sweeney, though several cast members recently realized that the moment had slipped from their memory.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
According to the complaint, Ohtani did not grant Mizuhara access to the account from which Mizuhara allegedly transferred more than $16 million to a bookmaker, nor did Ohtani realize the transfers had been made until Mizuhara told him following the season-opening game in South Korea.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Walton Goggins’ Cooper Howard, who later survives the nuclear war as a ghoulish bounty hunter, also realizes his wife is one of the Vault-Tec executives who pitches the diabolical idea.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
As in what if the visions of some rioters had been realized, what if the nation was again broken by Civil War, what if the democratic experiment called America had come undone?
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Kieran McGirl, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
The World Fair is proof that Milwaukee is more diverse than some realize, Gervais said.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
What inspired me to start a business was actually COVID, and just realizing that a lot of jobs that were not necessities at the time were taken away.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Their sense of whimsy and their ability to realize it in metal and stone has been hard-earned through consistent effort, decade after decade—which isn’t an entirely inaccurate definition of the horological arts.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
The series finale featured a guest performance from Sydney Sweeney, though several cast members recently realized that the moment had slipped from their memory.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
According to the complaint, Ohtani did not grant Mizuhara access to the account from which Mizuhara allegedly transferred more than $16 million to a bookmaker, nor did Ohtani realize the transfers had been made until Mizuhara told him following the season-opening game in South Korea.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Walton Goggins’ Cooper Howard, who later survives the nuclear war as a ghoulish bounty hunter, also realizes his wife is one of the Vault-Tec executives who pitches the diabolical idea.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
As in what if the visions of some rioters had been realized, what if the nation was again broken by Civil War, what if the democratic experiment called America had come undone?
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 11 Apr. 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.
Articles Related to realize
Dictionary Entries Near realize
Cite this Entry
“Realize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realize. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
realize
verb
re·al·ize
ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz
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
realization
noun
ˌrē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən
ˌri-ə-
Legal Definition
realize
transitive verb
re·al·ize
ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share