Meaning & use
realization
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
The moment of suddenly understanding or becoming aware of something that you did not know before.
Grammar: Often 'the realization that...' or 'a realization'.
Patterns
- the realization that
- come to a realization
The realization that he was lost made him panic.
She came to the realization that she needed a break.
A sudden realization hit me during the lecture.
noununcountableformal
The act of making a plan, hope or ambition actually happen.
Grammar: Often 'the realization of a dream'.
Patterns
- the realization of something
Winning the prize was the realization of a lifelong dream.
The realization of the project took five years.
They worked hard toward the realization of their goals.
noununcountablefinancetechnical
The act of selling assets to turn them into money.
Grammar: Finance term.
Patterns
- the realization of assets
The realization of the company's assets paid off the debts.
Profit realization occurs when shares are sold.
The realization of property took several months.
Word forms
| plural | realizations |
|---|
Common combinations
- dawning realization
- A dawning realization crossed her face.
- come to the realization
- He came to the realization that he was wrong.
- sudden realization
- A sudden realization made her stop.
- realization of a dream
- The trip was the realization of a dream.
- growing realization
- There is a growing realization that action is needed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- awareness
- Awareness is a continuing state of knowing, while realization is the moment of coming to know.
- epiphany
- An epiphany is a more dramatic, deep insight, whereas realization may be small.
- fulfillment
- Fulfillment fits only the sense of achieving a hope or goal.
- recognition
- Recognition means identifying something known, while realization means understanding something new.
Opposites
Word family
- realize verb
- to become aware of something or make it real
- real adjective
- existing in fact
- realizable adjective
- able to be achieved
- realisation noun
- British spelling
Commonly confused: realization or realisation?
realization vs realisation
Realisation is just the British spelling of realization.
Practice
She came to the ___ that she had left her keys at home.
Choose one answer.
'Come to the realization that' is the standard pattern for sudden understanding. Reality and realism do not fit this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “realization”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.