realise
Formsrealises, realising, realised
US spellingrealize · also used in the UK
- 1To start to know or understand something that is true, often something true for a while.
I didn't realise you had moved to Leeds.
She suddenly realised she had left her keys on the bus.
UsageOften followed by a clause: I didn't realise you were here; she realised how late it was.
Similarunderstand, notice, recognise, appreciate, grasp
- 2To make a plan, hope or idea really happen.
His dream of opening a café was finally realised last spring.
The children worked hard to realise their plan for a new playground.
UsageYou realise a dream or a plan. A survey or a test is carried out (not
incorrect: realised).Similarachieve, fulfil, accomplish, attain, complete
- 3To become all that you are able to be as a person.
He felt he could never realise himself in a job he hated.
A good school helps children realise themselves, not just pass exams.
UsageSaid with myself, yourself and so on: you realise yourself through your work. Realise your potential means much the same.
Less common meanings
- 4To sell things you own, like shares, so that you have money instead.
They had to realise some of their shares to pay for the new roof.
The company realised its buildings and machines to pay what it owed.
UsageYou realise the thing you sell, like shares or a house. You realise a profit when you make money from it.
Note
- 5To make money or a profit by selling something you own, or from an investment.
They hope to realise enough money from the sale to pay off the loan.
He realised a big profit when he sold the house.
UsageYou realise money or a profit from a sale. To realise on something is to sell it for money.
Similarmake, net, earn, gain, clear
Note
- 6To bring in a certain amount of money when sold or invested, said of things people own.
The old stamps realised more than £500 at the sale.
Houses on this street usually realise a good price when they are sold.
UsageThe thing sold comes first: the stamps realised £500. It means the same as fetch or sell for.
- 7To make something seem real, for example by showing it clearly.
Good writers can realise a whole village so well that it feels real.
The film realises life on a pirate ship so well that you can almost smell the sea.
UsageOften in reviews of books and films: a beautifully realised world feels real.
Similarevoke, capture, depict, render, portray
Note
- 8To imagine or feel something so clearly that it becomes real in your mind.
That any civilized human being in this nineteenth century should not be aware that the earth travelled round the sun appeared to be to me such an extraordinary fact that I could hardly realize it.
1887, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “A Study in Scarlet”UsageUsually with could not or could hardly: she could hardly realise it was true.
Similarimagine, picture, visualise
Note
- 9To really live through something and feel it for yourself.
Note
- 10In the study of language, to say one of a language's basic sounds in a particular way.
- 11To finish a piece of music that was left incomplete or not fully written down.
- 12To change a piece of music for one player so that a whole orchestra can play it.
- 13In older music, to play the chords that are shown only as numbers under a bass line.
- 14In maths, to make a particular example from a group or structure that is only an idea.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of realise apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
Real with the ending -ise added. It may come from the French word réaliser, which means to make something real.