realise

Other forms: realised; realising; realises

When you realise something, it becomes clear to you. Brits spell this word with an "s," while Americans will replace the "s" with a "z." We hope you realise this difference if you are editing a Brit's writing.

All the meanings of realise amount to making something “real” in some way. If you realise a plan, you make it happen. If you realise a fact, you see its truth. If you realise the seriousness of a situation, you become aware of its dangers. Since this word was originally borrowed from the French réaliser (meaning "make real"), we can understand why the Brits spell it r-e-a-l-i-s-e with an "s."

Definitions of realise

1. verb

   be fully aware or cognizant of
   synonyms: agnise, agnize, realize, recognise, recognize

   types:

   know

   know the nature or character of

   type of:

   cognise, cognize, know

   be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
2. verb

   perceive (an idea or situation) mentally
   synonyms: realize, see, understand

   envision, fancy, figure, image, picture, project, see, visualise, visualize

   imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind

   see

   see and understand, have a good eye

   types:

   perceive

   become conscious of

   appreciate, take account

   be fully aware of; realize fully

   sense, smell, smell out

   become aware of not through the senses but instinctively
3. verb

   make real or concrete; give reality or substance to
   synonyms: actualise, actualize, realize, substantiate

   types:

   incarnate

   make concrete and real

   express

   manifest the effects of (a gene or genetic trait)

   type of:

   create, make

   make or cause to be or to become
4. verb

   earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
   synonyms: bring in, clear, earn, gain, make, pull in, realize, take in

   make

   act in a certain way so as to acquire

   clear, net, sack, sack up

   make as a net profit

   types:

   eke out, squeeze out

   make by laborious and precarious means

   profit, turn a profit

   make a profit; gain money or materially

   rake off

   take money from an illegal transaction

   bring home, take home

   earn as a salary or wage

   rake in, shovel in

   earn large sums of money

   gross

   earn before taxes, expenses, etc.

   bear, pay, yield

   bring in

   line one's pockets

   make a lot of money

   turn a nice dime, turn a nice dollar, turn a nice penny

   make a satisfactory profit

   clean up

   make a big profit; often in a short period of time

   clear, net

   yield as a net profit

   pay off

   yield a profit or result

   monetize

   use something as a source of income or profit

   type of:

   acquire, get

   come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
5. verb

   convert into cash; of goods and property
   synonyms: realize

   type of:

   sell

   exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
6. verb

   expand or complete (a part in a piece of baroque music) by supplying the harmonies indicated in the figured bass
   synonyms: realize

   type of:

   harmonise, harmonize

   write a harmony for