Meaning 1
To become fully aware of a fact or meaning.
Reach for it when describing an understanding that becomes clear enough to affect action
I realized the quiet participant had proposed the answer an hour earlier.
Meaning 2
To make a plan, hope, or possibility become real.
Reach for it when describing successful fulfillment of an idea or ambition
The cooperative realized its plan for a shared cold-storage room.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday |
| |
| warm | ||
| professional |
| |
| formal |
everyday
Fits when firm mental comprehension deserves emphasis
Careful Grasp can sound abrupt or informal in sensitive writing.
everyday
Fits when grasping meaning or reasons is central
Careful Understanding can be gradual and lacks realize's moment of recognition.
warm
Fits when understanding value or significance is intended
Careful Appreciate may imply gratitude that the realization does not.
professional
Fits when identifying or acknowledging something is enough
Careful Recognition may stop short of understanding consequences.
everyday
bring about
Fits when causing a result is clearer than formal wording
Careful Bring about does not imply that the result was a prior aspiration.
warm
Fits when meeting a promise, need, or aspiration matters
Careful Fulfill may concern an obligation rather than creating something real.
professional
Fits when completing a task deserves emphasis
Careful Accomplish fits bounded work better than a broad vision.
professional
Fits when reaching a goal through effort is the point
Careful Achievement need not involve giving concrete form to an idea.
professional
implement
Fits when putting a plan into operation is the action
Careful Implementation can be partial and may not realize the intended outcome.
formal
actualize
Fits when turning potential into reality suits technical prose
Careful Actualize is abstract and awkward in everyday encouragement.
realize the importance
The trainees began to realize the importance of documenting small failures.
realize a goal
A shared calendar helped the group realize a goal that once felt remote.
fully realize
Only after the interview did I fully realize how much the mentor had protected.
realize the vision
Local craftspeople helped realize the vision for a welcoming public square.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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