# unrealized

/ənˈɹiəˌɫaɪzd/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unrealized
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

not yet made real or collected. You use it for profits or plans that exist on paper but have not happened yet.

For teachers: not yet achieved, fulfilled, or converted into cash or other concrete form. Typically describes paper gains or losses on investments that have changed in value but have not been sold.

## Examples

- They have a lot of unrealized plans for the house.
- The investor has an unrealized gain of two thousand dollars because her shares rose but she has not sold them.
- Much of the startup's valuation rested on unrealized potential, a promise of future revenue that excited backers even though the company had yet to turn a profit.

## Synonyms

unfulfilled, unmet

## Antonyms

realized, fulfilled, collected, achieved

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies; often pairs with 'gain', 'loss', 'profit', 'potential', or 'dream'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.