realize
UK /ˈɹɪə.laɪz/ · US /ˈɹi(.ə)ˌlaɪz/ verb
Forms realizes realizing realized realizest realizedst realizeth realise
- verb To become aware of, understand, or appreciate (a fact or situation, especially something which has been true for some time). “He realized that he had left his umbrella on the train.”
- verb To sense (something) strongly or vividly as if real.
- verb To cause (something) to seem real; to make realistic; specifically, to present (something) clearly to the mind, a person, (archaic) oneself, etc., so that it seems real.
- verb (chiefly passive voice, slightly formal) To convert (something imaginary or planned, as a goal or idea) into reality; to bring into real existence, to make real. “The objectives of the project were never fully realized.”
- verb (reflexive) To achieve (one's) potential.
- verb To convert (an asset or property, especially investments such as bonds, shares, etc.) into a more easily usable form such as money, especially by selling the asset or property. “By realizing the company’s assets, the liquidator was able to return most of the shareholders’ investments.”
- verb To acquire (money, a profit, etc.) by selling an asset or property, through trade, etc.; also (followed by on), to make (money or a profit) on an investment, a venture, etc. “to realize large profits from a speculation”
- verb Of an asset or property: to generate (a specific amount of money or interest) when invested or sold.
Synonyms
implement execute actualize materialize embody accomplish tumble recognize recognise realise agnize agnise understand see actualise substantiate gain take in clear make earn pull in bring in
Antonyms
Etymology
From real (adjective) + -ize (suffix denoting the making of what is indicated by the word it is attached to), possibly modelled after French réaliser, Middle French réaliser (“to make real; to convert (something) into assets or cash”), from real (“actual, real”) + -iser (suffix denoting the making of what is indicated by the word it is attached to). Real is derived from Old French reel, from Latin reālis (“actual, real”), from rēs (“deed; event; matter; thing”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *reh₁ís (“goods; wealth”)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To make real; to convert from the imaginary or fictitious into the actual; to bring into concrete existence; to accomplish; as, to realize a scheme or project.
- verb To cause to seem real; to impress upon the mind as actual; to feel vividly or strongly; to make one's own in apprehension or experience.
- verb To convert any kind of property into money, especially property representing investments, as shares in stock companies, bonds, etc. Wary men took the alarm, and began to realize, a word now first brought into use to express the conversion of ideal property into something real. W. Irving.
Etymology [Cf. F. réaliser.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “realize”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details