realize[verb]Synonyms:- become aware of, comprehend, get the message, grasp, take in, understand
- achieve, accomplish, carry out
or through, complete, do, effect, fulfil, perform
English Thesaurus: realize, become aware, dawn on somebody, sink in, hit, ... [TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲
rea‧lize S1 W1 (
also realise British English) /ˈrɪəlaɪz/
verb [transitive not usually in progressive] [
Word Family: noun:
realism,
realist,
reality,
unreality,
realization;
adverb:
real,
really,
realistically ≠
unrealistically;
adjective:
real,
unreal,
realistic ≠
unrealistic;
verb:
realize]
[
Date: 1600-1700;
Language: French;
Origin: réaliser, from Old French real; ⇒ real1]
1. UNDERSTAND to know and understand something, or suddenly begin to understand it
realize (that) I suddenly realized that the boy was crying. Do you realize you’re an hour late?realize who/what/how etc I’m sorry, I didn’t realize who you were. It took us a while to realize the extent of the tragedy. It was only later that I realized my mistake.► Do not say that you ‘realize about/of something’. Say that you
realize something.
2. ACHIEVE formal to achieve something that you were hoping to achieve:
She never realized her ambition of winning an Olympic gold medal. a young singer who has not yet realized her full potential (=achieved as much as she can achieve)3. sb’s worst fears were realized used to say that the thing that you were most afraid of has actually happened:
His worst fears were realized when he heard that Chris had been arrested.4. MONEY a) formal to obtain or earn an amount of money:
The campaign realized $5000. We realized a small profit on the sale of the house. b) realize an asset technical to change something that you own into money by selling it
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲
realizeverb1. BAD: The criminal mind is not always easy to realize.
GOOD: The criminal mind is not always easy to understand.
BAD: I didn't realize the meaning of 'junk mail'.
GOOD: I didn't understand the meaning of 'junk mail'.
Usage Note:KNOW · REALIZE · RECOGNIZE · UNDERSTAND Know be aware of a fact or particular piece of information: ‘Do you know their new telephone number?’ ‘I know she’s fond of you. She told me so herself.’
Realize suddenly become aware of a fact or the true meaning of something, especially because you have though about it or received new information about it: ‘I suddenly realized that the thumping I could hear was the sound of my own heart.’ ‘It was only when I saw the expression on the doctor’s face that I realized the seriousness of her illness.’
Recognize know what something is because you have seen/heard/smelled it before; know who someone is because you have seen them before: ‘I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you - you’ve had your hair cut!’
Understand know what something means, what causes something, how something operates, how someone feels etc: ‘I’ve never really understood physics.’ ‘Such behaviour is very difficult to understand.’
2. BAD: The school year is divided into three terms, as you realize.
GOOD: The school year is divided into three terms, as you know.
BAD: Nobody realized whether he was coming.
GOOD: Nobody knew whether he was coming.
Usage Note:See Language Note above
3. BAD: Our own mistakes are sometimes difficult to realize.
GOOD: Our own mistakes are sometimes difficult to recognize.
BAD: I'm sure you will realize the song when you hear it.
GOOD: I'm sure you will recognize the song when you hear it.
Usage Note:See Language Note above
4. BAD: The headmaster realized his threat and sent the children home.
GOOD: The headmaster carried out his threat and sent the children home.
BAD: Many people in developing countries do not realize family planning.
GOOD: Many people in developing countries do not practise family planning.
Usage Note:When
realize means 'make something actually happen or become real', it is usually used with words such as
ambition, intention, expectation, hope, dream, fear : 'I feel confident that the high expectations I have of my new job will be realized.'
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲