What does "realize" mean?

1. (to understand) to suddenly understand a situation or become aware of a fact. 2. (to make real) to make a dream, plan, or hope happen in real life. 3. (to sell for profit) to sell something you own to get the money from it. 4. (linguistics) to make the actual sound of a letter or word when speaking. 5. (music) to complete or perform a piece of music from a simple outline.

How do you use "realize"?

Often used with 'assets' or 'investments' as the direct object.

Is it correct to say "I am realizing the truth now."?

No — say "I realize the truth now.". In its sense of 'understanding', realize is a stative verb and is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form.

realize

US //ˈɹiəˌɫaɪz// re·al·ize

1 to understand (v.)
A2 Elementary

to suddenly understand a situation or become aware of a fact.

to become aware of, understand, or appreciate a fact or situation, often one that has existed for some time.

Example

I didn't realize that the shop was closed on Mondays until I got there.

Example

Only after reviewing the year-end data did the board realize that their initial projections had been overly optimistic.
- misunderstand
- ignore
Pitfall

I am realizing the truth now.

I realize the truth now.

In its sense of 'understanding', realize is a stative verb and is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form.
2 to make real (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to make a dream, plan, or hope happen in real life.

to convert an abstract idea, goal, or plan into reality.

Example

She finally realized her dream of opening her own bakery.

Example

The architect's vision was fully realized when the glass pavilion was completed ahead of the summer festival.
- achieve
- fulfil
- actualise
- fail
- abandon

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3 to sell for profit (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

to sell something you own to get the money from it.

to convert an asset or property into money, typically by selling it.

Example

The company had to sell its offices to realize its assets.

Example

The investors decided to realize their gains after the stock price hit an all-time high in the third quarter.

Usage

Often used with 'assets' or 'investments' as the direct object.
- liquidate
- clear
- invest
4 linguistics (v.)
C2 Proficiency Academic Technical Science

to make the actual sound of a letter or word when speaking.

to give concrete form to an abstract linguistic unit, such as a phoneme, in actual speech.

Example

In some accents, the letter R is not realized at the end of words.

Example

The study examines how different social groups realize the dental fricative in informal conversation.
- articulate
- produce
5 music (v.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Music

to complete or perform a piece of music from a simple outline.

to complete or flesh out a musical sketch or a figured bass, especially in Baroque music.

Example

The pianist had to realize the harmony from the composer's basic notes.

Example

The ensemble performed a newly realized version of the unfinished sonata, staying true to the composer's original style.
- arrange
- complete

Origin

PIE word *reh₁ís 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).

Word family

Verbrealize
Nounrealization