realizerea‧lize (also realise British English) /ˈrɪəlaɪz/ ●●● S1 W1 verb [transitive] 
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.GRAMMAR: Using the progressive• In this meaning, realize is not usually used in the progressive. You say: · Nobody realizes how important this is. ✗Don’t say: Nobody is realizing how important this is.• In spoken English, people sometimes say I’m realizing to say that they have recently begun to realize something: · Now I’m a parent, I’m realizing what my parents went through.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS2achieve 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)3somebody’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.4money 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 itTHESAURUSrealize to begin to understand, notice, or know something that you did not understand etc before: · I hadn’t realized that Ben was his brother.· She suddenly realized who the man in the photograph was.become aware to gradually realize that something is happening or is true, over a period of time: · He slowly became aware that he was not alone· People are becoming more aware of the harmful effects of cars on the environment.dawn on somebody if something dawns on you, you realize it for the first time – often used in the phrase it dawned on somebody: · It dawned on me that he could be lying.· It only dawned on her that she was in danger when she saw rescue workers running away from the building.· He thought about the dream for a long time before its meaning began to dawn on him.sink in if something sinks in, you begin to realize its full meaning or importance, especially gradually: · It took a few minutes for the doctor’s words to sink in.· The reality of what I had done slowly began to sink in.hit if a fact hits you, you suddenly understand it and how important it is: · It hit me one day that he didn’t care. He’d talk when I phoned him, but he’d never call me.strike if an idea or thought strikes you, you suddenly think of it: · It suddenly struck her what a risk she was taking.· A thought has just struck me - there must be other people with the same problem.
WORD ORIGINrealize
Origin:
1600-1700 French réaliser, from Old French real; ➔ REAL1VERB TABLE
realize
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | realize |
| he, she, it | realizes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | realized |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have realized |
| he, she, it | has realized | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had realized |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will realize |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have realized |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am realizing |
| he, she, it | is realizing | |
| you, we, they | are realizing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was realizing |
| you, we, they | were realizing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been realizing |
| he, she, it | has been realizing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been realizing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be realizing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been realizing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "She's been promoted to chief executive." "Oh, really? I didn't realize."
- Even Horton's family hadn't realized how sick he was, both physically and emotionally.
- I realize that you are very busy, but could I talk to you for a few minutes?
- None of us realized the danger we were in.
- Oh, is that your chair? Sorry, I didn't realize.
- The initial campaign has realized $5000 in cash and pledges.
- Tim only realized his mistake the next day.
- We were obliged to realize most of our assets.
- Astonishingly the Commission failed to realize that its proposed ratio of one additional member for three constituency members would be inadequate.
- Gabby felt tears sting her eyes, suddenly realizing the full force of what was happening.
- He'd cried out before he realized what the obstruction was: a pile of bollards.
- Mitch Snyder may have realized it was his best chance of making some kind of mark on the parish.
- Neither she nor many of the other pilots had the vision to realize they were looking at the future.
- Owen realized that was what they had come for.
- Then I realized it was Malpass.
- Women dieters, she realized, had been duped.
THESAURUS
to begin to understand, notice, or know something that you did not understand etc before: · I hadn’t realized that Ben was his brother.· She suddenly realized who the man in the photograph was.
to gradually realize that something is happening or is true, over a period of time: · He slowly became aware that he was not alone· People are becoming more aware of the harmful effects of cars on the environment.
if something dawns on you, you realize it for the first time – often used in the phrase it dawned on somebody: · It dawned on me that he could be lying.· It only dawned on her that she was in danger when she saw rescue workers running away from the building.· He thought about the dream for a long time before its meaning began to dawn on him.
if something sinks in, you begin to realize its full meaning or importance, especially gradually: · It took a few minutes for the doctor’s words to sink in.· The reality of what I had done slowly began to sink in.
if a fact hits you, you suddenly understand it and how important it is: · It hit me one day that he didn’t care. He’d talk when I phoned him, but he’d never call me.
if an idea or thought strikes you, you suddenly think of it: · It suddenly struck her what a risk she was taking.· A thought has just struck me - there must be other people with the same problem.
Longman Language Activatorwhen pictures, films etc do not make things seem real also realise British · Tim only realized his mistake the next day.· Without realising it, we had gone the wrong way.· Oh, is that your chair? Sorry, I didn't realize.realize (that) · She woke up and realised that there was someone moving around downstairs.
if something occurs to you, you suddenly realize that it might be true, especially when you had been thinking something completely different before: it occurs to somebody (that): · It suddenly occurred to me that maybe she was lying.· Didn't it ever occur to you that they would probably like to be alone together?
to slowly realize something, especially over a fairly long period of time: become aware of: · I was slowly becoming aware of how much Melissa was suffering.become aware that: · He became aware that the man sitting opposite was staring at him intently.
if a fact or someone's words sink in , you gradually realize their full meaning: · The news of the President's assassination had only just begun to sink in.· Winning this tournament means so much to me. It hasn't really sunk in yet.
if a fact dawns on you, you slowly start to realize it, especially when you should have realized it before: · The awful truth only dawned on me later.it dawns on somebody that: · It slowly dawned on her that they were all making fun of her.it dawns on somebody how/why etc: · It didn't dawn on me how seriously injured I was until I got to the hospital.
if an idea or thought strikes you, you suddenly realize something: it strikes somebody (that): · It struck her one day, when she was walking home from school, that she hadn't thought about her weight for over a month.· It just struck me - you must have been in the same class as my brother.
if a fact hits you, you suddenly realize its importance or its full meaning and you feel shocked: · The full impact of what he'd said hit me a few hours later.it hits somebody: · Suddenly it hit me. He was trying to ask me to marry him.
to begin to fully realize and understand something, especially after you have avoided thinking about it because it is unpleasant or it makes you feel uncomfortable: · How long will it be before people wake up to the fact that anyone can catch AIDS.· The speaker warned that we must "wake up to the fact that we are in a tough competitive market".
spoken say this when you suddenly realize something that makes a subject or situation easy to understand: · Then it clicked. The man at the station must have been her brother!it clicked what/how/where etc: · Finally it clicked what all the fuss had been about.
to make someone realize how serious, difficult, or dangerous something is: · This is the last place you would expect there to be a murder. It just brings it home to you that this kind of thing can happen anywhere.· It often takes something like a heart attack to bring home to people the danger of smoking.
when what you want or expect happens · We'd always feared that this might happen.· For some time there had been predictions of a major earthquake, and then on April 19, 1906, it happened.· I want to make things up with her, but I don't think it's going to happen.
if your wishes, dreams etc come true , what you have wished for or dreamed about actually happens: · Patterson's dream came true when he won the Boston marathon on his first attempt.· People say that if you make a wish at the top of the hill, it always comes true.
also be realised British if your expectations, hopes, fears etc are realized , what you expected or hoped for actually happens: · At thirty-five her ambition of running her own business was finally realized.· My worst fears were realised when I saw what was on the exam paper.
if a wish or promise is fulfilled , what someone wished for or was promised actually happens: · Tom decided to run the farm himself, so that his father's wish might be fulfilled.· We knew that the 'democratic elections' were a promise which would not be fulfilled.
also materialise British if an event which has been planned, expected, or promised materializes , it actually happens: · Even if the salary rise materialises, it won't be worth much.· It was rumoured that Apple would be sold to Sun Microsystems, but that deal never materialized.fail to materialize (=not happen): · The promised recovery failed to materialize and unemployment kept on rising.
to know a fact or piece of information to know a fact or piece of information: · I love this painting - do you know the name of the artist?· Jack's leaving. Didn't you know?know (that): · I knew he was ill, but I didn't realize he had cancer.know how/what/where etc: · Do you know where Andy is?know about: · How much do you know about the Moore case?know of: · I know of one company where members of staff get their meals free.know a lot about: · He knew a lot about baseball, and about how to pick great players.
also realise British to know that a situation exists, and especially to know how important or serious it is: · None of us realized the danger we were in.· "She's been promoted to chief executive." "Oh, really? I didn't realize."realize (that): · I realize that you are very busy, but could I talk to you for a few minutes?realize how/what/why: · Even Horton's family hadn't realized how sick he was, both physically and emotionally.
formal to know or begin to realize that a situation exists, often a serious one: be/become aware of: · I am aware of the risks involved in the project, but I am willing to take them.· Children become aware of rules during this stage of development.be/become aware (that): · The question is, was the Chief of Police aware that so much corruption existed within the police department?well/acutely/keenly aware (=used to emphasize that someone definitely knows something): · There were signs everywhere - the two men must have been well aware that they were hunting out of season.painfully aware (=aware of something that upsets you): · Abbey was always painfully aware that she was not as pretty as her sister.
especially spoken to know that something is true because you can see signs that show this: · She's going to have a baby - couldn't you tell?can tell (that): · I could tell he worked outdoors, because he had a deep tan.can tell by/from: · You can tell by the look on her face that she's hiding something.can tell whether/what/how etc: · You can tell when kids aren't feeling well.· I couldn't tell exactly how old he was.from what I can tell...: · Don't worry. From what I can tell, you'll make a great father.
to understand how serious a situation or problem is: · I wonder if he really appreciates the seriousness of the situation.appreciate how/what/why: · Changes were taking place, though at the time no one fully appreciated how far-reaching these changes were to be.appreciate (that): · I appreciate that some of you have had to wait all night, and I thank you for your patience.
to know that a particular situation exists and to have it in your mind continuously: be conscious of: · I was very conscious of the fact that this was an important meeting and that I had to make a good impression.· As oil prices rose, countries in the West suddenly became conscious of fuel efficiency. be conscious (that): · He was conscious that she was staring at him as he spoke.
spoken use this to say that someone knows something, although they behave as if they do not: know perfectly well (that): · He knows perfectly well, he's not allowed to park outside the main door.· I knew perfectly well that I had anorexia, but I wouldn't admit that it was a problem.know perfectly well what/why/who etc: · You know perfectly well what I mean, so stop pretending you don't.
to know what is likely to happen in a particular situation, because you have learned from your own experiences: know/learn from experience (that): · He knew from experience that most ship's captains were not adequately covered with life insurance. know from past/personal/first-hand etc experience: · Kelly knew from personal experience that education is a ticket out of minimum-wage work.know from bitter experience (=know something because of a bad experience of something similar): · Sue learned from bitter experience not to rely on Martin in times of crisis.
to not realize what is happening · "It's my birthday today." "Oh, I didn't realize. I should have bought you a card."not know/not realize/have no idea (that) · I wish I'd brought my coat. I didn't know it would be so cold.· We didn't realize that he had quit, until he didn't show up at work that day.not know/not realize/have no idea what/how/where etc · My wife and I had no idea how much we would depend upon Social Security in the future.
formal to not know about a situation or about something that is happening, especially when you should know about it: be unaware/not be aware of: · The child was clearly unaware of the danger.· If any bad feelings existed between the two of them, I was not aware of it.be unaware/not be aware that: · His parents weren't even aware that he smoked.
formal to know nothing about a subject or situation because you have not experienced it, read about it, or heard about it: · The general public has little or no knowledge of what is happening inside prisons.· The State Department said it had no knowledge of any threats to U.S. security.
also unbeknownst to somebody use this about something that was happening without you knowing about it at the time: · Unbeknown to me, Denise had her own plan.· Unbeknownst to the public, he was involved in covering up the scandal that was to rock the nation.
use this when you did not know or imagine that something was true or would happen: little did I/she/he etc know that: · Little did she know that this picture would one day be worth more than a million dollars.· Little did I know then that I would be working in Los Angeles 35 years later.
spoken say this when you know almost nothing about a situation and to suggest something that might have happened or be true, especially something unlikely: · They may have gone to South America, for all we know.· You shouldn't have accepted a ride from him. For all you knew he might have been a mass murderer.
if you are unconscious of the effect of something that you have said or done, you do not realize how it affects other people: · She appeared to be unconscious of the amusement she had caused by her remarks.· Like many tourists they were unconscious of the fact that they had deeply offended their hosts.
someone who is oblivious to what is happening around them does not notice it and continues to do other things without being affected by it: oblivious of: · They soon fell asleep, oblivious of the danger.oblivious to: · The walkers in front crossed the ledge easily, seemingly oblivious to the fact that there was a 3000 foot drop on either side.· In the sitcom she plays a New York executive who's totally oblivious to the feelings of others.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY 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)COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I suddenly realized that there was someone following me.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
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) (=do what you wanted to do)· It took her ten years to achieve her ambition.· He was prepared to go to any lengths to fulfil his ambition.· I want to thank all those who made it possible for me to realize a lifetime’s ambition.
(=do or get what you want)· He had finally achieved his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.
· By the time she realized her error, it was too late.
· We do not yet know the extent of the damage.
(=understand what they are)· The government has been slow to grasp the implications of the current teacher shortage.
· We all recognize the importance of his work.
· As soon as he realized his mistake he turned in the right direction.
(=succeed as much as you have the potential to succeed)· A lot of athletes find it difficult to achieve their potential.
I suddenly realized that there was someone following me.· And the big slob didn't even realize how objectionable he was.· The sales pitch can be so slick that many consumers don't even realize they have bought magazines until the bill arrives.· Without even realizing it, she had begun to back away.· Muriel, eleven, never even realized what had happened.· She sits and watches, and they do not even realize that she has provoked them to it.· Had we run the falls without even realizing it?· They gave me no encouragement at all and didn't even realize I was so into football.· They may not even realize how awful they make you and your sisters feel.
· Penn said a decade passed before he realized how profoundly the experience had influenced him.· Don't you realize how extremely proud that man was?· Did Cornell realize how extensive his legacy would be over time?· He was beginning to realize how very little he understood about either Edward or Katherine Schumacher.· Norm had never realized how tiny Greene was, until now.· Why hadn't she realized how hopeless she had become, how she had forgotten everything during those months of pregnancy?· Sometimes when Rob realized how much he had old Albert, he felt uncomfortable.
· That stupid Agnes never realizes how strong she is, Perdita thought.· You know, I never realized until now just how nice it was.· Gabriel had never realized how many sick or imperfect people there were in the world.· I had never realized how lovely they were, how kind, how unfailingly polite.· I never realized just how evil you rally are.· I had never realized before what a rich source of endorsement and approval mere weight loss could be.· I never realized what good fun fishing was.· Beavis and Butt-head never realized Daria was insulting them, which was part of the humor and also part of their attraction.
· She soon realized that these activities were incompatible.· At first she dumped the garden waste, but she soon realized this would make excellent garden compost.· He soon realized he had made a dreadful mistake.· But unlike the Fool, we soon realize that Zampano does not mean what he says.· He realized soon, though, that there was a problem.· He ran to midcourt and hugged Barros, but soon realized that 0. 8 seconds remained on the clock.· This is not the book of a scholar, as you will soon realize, but that of a genuine enthusiast.· His engineers soon realized that this was almost as ludicrous.
· I suddenly realized that there were a lot of worthwhile things I could do if I were reprieved.· Gabby felt tears sting her eyes, suddenly realizing the full force of what was happening.· I realized suddenly that this was all.· I said, suddenly realizing that this man was no Saturday-night drunk.· Yes, she realized suddenly, that was it.· Glover suddenly realized that he linked both this boy and Lois with the end of his privacy.· I've suddenly realized how bizarre this situation is.· I tried to sound composed, not to show courage but because I suddenly realized it was simply the only alternative.
NOUN· In the fourth sentence, the focus suddenly shifts to talking about creators in general and how they realize their dreams.· They went on dreaming, but they could not exercise their power to realize their dreams.· But even on the verge of realizing her dream, Gupta is having second thoughts.· Now, however, he realized that those dreams were just fantasies and could never be fulfilled.· But the man who made it possible for Texans to realize their dreams of legally hiding handguns, Republican Gov.· He never came close to realizing his dream of winning the presidency.· Some people dream great dreams, but they never develop a plan complete with goals and tactics to realize their dreams.· Hope dies when there is no way of realizing our dreams.
· By the time they realized their mistake and released Mohiuddin, it was too late.· The driver later realized his mistake and notified police.· By 10.00am we realize our mistake in not pressing on all night.· Prison officials calculated that she would be released this summer, realizing their mistake only this week.· Almost inevitably Schultz had gone to the wrong church and had let his staff car go before realizing his mistake.· Too late, she realized her mistake.· In time, of course, they realized their mistake.
· It is worth pointing out that more work had been done by the pathfinders than many people realize.· Few people realize where the cluster fly comes from.· However public protests are also gathering momentum as people realize that shrimp farming seems to be a recipe for disaster.· In fact, however, the experiences of men and women are much closer than most people realize.· There's certainly one mobile unit on the market at the moment, though not many people realize it.· A centre spread in the Evening Standard brought a new cascade. People were realizing that they had a choice.· She felt she should hang up. People, she suddenly realized, could be awful.
· Supporters like Jim Cummins maintain that heritage language teaching is an important step in helping immigrant students realize their potential.· But as you grow in confidence, and experience, you will be able to realize your full potential.· A research programme must be given a chance to realize its full potential.· Under Adenauer and Schmidt it realized its full potential.· The essential condition for realizing this potential is the overthrow of all forms of oppression.· As though it does not matter that half of humanity have been prohibited from realizing their potential.
VERB· When the rumour reached Gabriel she began to realize what she would say to John Coffin.· She could see his old confidence flooding back as he began to realize that everything was working out very conveniently ....· But now, at last, Californians have begun to realize they are about to lose their landscape heritage.· As we travel through life, we begin to realize that grief and deep disappointments lie beneath the surface of our lives.· He began to realize just how much he knew, and began to think about being an announcer himself.· Slothrop's search, however, has scarcely begun before he realizes that he himself is under investigation.· And I began to realize that this is something I have to do.
· He was beginning to realize how very little he understood about either Edward or Katherine Schumacher.· Community links Many schools are beginning to realize that a home page also can be a link to their communities.· We are also beginning to realize that there are reciprocal interactions between steroids and behaviour.· But despite all the advancements in recent decades, computers are only now beginning to realize their potential.· Living with her, day in day out, I was beginning to realize how unstable she is.· Art dealers were beginning to realize that paintings could become valuable investments for speculators.· Now I think she's beginning to realize that I scorn her.
· Gradually she came to realize that it was reminding her of her father - her father and the allotment.· The oddball species, Packard was coming to realize, were the main show of the clearings.· In later years Chapman came to realize that the extension of the league system was having a bad effect on the game.· The first time Jasmine came home, Paylor realized she would have to raise the child.· It soon comes to realize that to receive human company, barking for a bit should be sufficient.· By eighth grade John had come to realize that secrecy carried its own special entitlements.· By accessing such areas of experience awareness is raised as the range of possible connections comes to be realized.· Had my father at last come to realize how nice it was to have our own place?
· He had failed, and he realized he would have to report back on the depth of his failure.· They fail to realize that deposits are merely book entries.· Men generally fail to realize that there are women in the pews in pain - and others have left.· Stalin either failed to realize this or felt he had no choice.· What they failed to realize was that the Volunteers were not being treated differently from anyone else.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► realize an assetPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- My worst fears were realized when I saw the test questions.
- His worst fears were realized and he was arrested.
- But little did he know at the time, how soon he'd need it.
WORD FAMILYnounrealismrealistrealityunrealityrealizationadjectiverealunrealrealistic ≠ unrealisticadverbrealreallyrealistically ≠ unrealisticallyverbrealize
1understand to know and understand something, or suddenly begin to understand itrealize (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.GRAMMAR: Using the progressive• In this meaning, realize is not usually used in the progressive. You say: · Nobody realizes how important this is. ✗Don’t say: Nobody is realizing how important this is.• In spoken English, people sometimes say I’m realizing to say that they have recently begun to realize something: · Now I’m a parent, I’m realizing what my parents went through.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS2achieve 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)3somebody’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.4money 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 itTHESAURUSrealize to begin to understand, notice, or know something that you did not understand etc before: · I hadn’t realized that Ben was his brother.· She suddenly realized who the man in the photograph was.become aware to gradually realize that something is happening or is true, over a period of time: · He slowly became aware that he was not alone· People are becoming more aware of the harmful effects of cars on the environment.dawn on somebody if something dawns on you, you realize it for the first time – often used in the phrase it dawned on somebody: · It dawned on me that he could be lying.· It only dawned on her that she was in danger when she saw rescue workers running away from the building.· He thought about the dream for a long time before its meaning began to dawn on him.sink in if something sinks in, you begin to realize its full meaning or importance, especially gradually: · It took a few minutes for the doctor’s words to sink in.· The reality of what I had done slowly began to sink in.hit if a fact hits you, you suddenly understand it and how important it is: · It hit me one day that he didn’t care. He’d talk when I phoned him, but he’d never call me.strike if an idea or thought strikes you, you suddenly think of it: · It suddenly struck her what a risk she was taking.· A thought has just struck me - there must be other people with the same problem.