realize

verb

ˈrē-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce realize (audio)
Definition of realizenext
1
as in to discover
to come to an awareness of I just realized that I can't go out to dinner tonight because I'm supposed to babysit for our neighbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to earn
to receive as return for effort if you deposit your paycheck in a savings account, you'll realize a little interest on it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word realize distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of realize are conceive, envisage, envision, fancy, imagine, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

When might conceive be a better fit than realize?

While the synonyms conceive and realize are close in meaning, conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

How are the words envisage and envision related as synonyms of realize?

Both envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease

Where would fancy be a reasonable alternative to realize?

The words fancy and realize are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When can imagine be used instead of realize?

The words imagine and realize can be used in similar contexts, but imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When would think be a good substitute for realize?

The synonyms think and realize are sometimes interchangeable, but think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of realize After realizing the shortcomings of tracking titles, the challenge for All Raise is to figure out what to track instead. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026 Eleven years later, the holders are looking to realize their investment and live out their dream of watching their team play for a championship. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 19 Oct. 2026 That was my whole intention, and realizing that this is something that is unlike what a lot of people think. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026 Choi said investments already made — into staffing, infrastructure, branding and comfort technology — and those upcoming will become realized within 12 to 18 months. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for realize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for realize
  1. discover
  2. earn
  3. see
  4. reap
  5. learn
  6. gain
  7. hear
  8. win
Verb
  • Some of the movie’s most memorable moments have barely anything to do with the plot, like when Matt discovers his eyelids fusing together and attempts to separate them with nail scissors in the bathroom of a bumpy plane.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Some way off Moss discovers a bag with $2 million in cash and takes it.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of discover
Verb
  • The New York Red Bulls took advantage of an early own goal, added an Emil Forsberg score in second-half stoppage time and capitalized on a limited appearance by Lionel Messi to earn a crucial 2-0 victory over Inter Miami on Saturday.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Prior to working in Hollywood, Atchity served as an assistant professor of English and comparative literature at Occidental College before earning tenure and becoming a full-time professor.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of earn
Verb
  • The attacks, which saw 1,195 people killed and 251 taken into Gaza as hostages, triggered a major security crisis that led to three years of war on multiple fronts.
    — Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The offense had a healthy-enough balance with the run game (more on that in a bit) to involve multiple pass-catchers, and the trio of leading receivers saw the immediate benefits.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of see
Verb
  • The railroads have yet to reap the price benefits of the volume growth, since intermodal rates are set in an annual bid season each fall and winter.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The platform continued to reap the benefits of record-high viewership for the FIFA World Cup, as the final games played out at the beginning of the quarter and aired on NBCUniversal's Telemundo and on Peacock.
    — Catriona Marangi, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of reap
Verb
  • The Sun enters your 3rd House, beginning a month that favors learning, writing, conversations, local activity, and following questions farther than usual.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The foundation cites decades of research and learning showing that grantees with flexible, long-term funding were better prepared for the unexpected.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of learn
Verb
  • The Panthers wound up out gaining Argyle 552 to 480 in total yards with running back Gabriel Bess picking up 160 yards on 19 carries.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • By adding a company with a long record in underwater robotics, Elbit gains access to specialist expertise that complements its existing surface, sensor, communications and command-and-control capabilities.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of gain
Verb
  • The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a case about the role race plays in middle school admissions, three years after a majority on the high court struck down affirmative action in college.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Trying to exonerate herself, Erin lays out this confusing defense about how her makeup guy heard about Sai’s divorce at a beauty event.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of hear
Verb
  • But Ben-Gvir and his allies hope to win enough seats to force Netanyahu to accommodate their demands or risk losing power.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Election Day nears The stakes are high as the race Marshall was supposed to win handily is now neck-and-neck, according to recent polling.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of win

Browse Nearby Words

realizations
realize
realized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Realize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/realize. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All