realize ˈrɪəlʌɪz/ verb verb: realise 1. become fully aware of (something) as a fact; understand clearly. "he realized his mistake at once" synonyms: register, perceive, discern, be/become aware of (the fact that), be/become conscious of (the fact that), notice; More understand, grasp, take in, comprehend, see, recognize, work out, fathom (out), appreciate, ascertain, apprehend, be/become cognizant of, know, conceive; discover, find; see the light; informallatch on to, cotton on to, catch on to, tumble to, get, figure out, get a fix on, wrap one's mind around, get the message, get the picture, have an aha moment; informaltwig, suss; informalsavvy; rarecognize "it took him a moment to realize what she meant" 2. cause to happen. "his worst fears have been realized"