materialize

verb

ma·​te·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

materialized; materializing

transitive verb

1

a

: to make material : objectify

b

: to cause to appear in bodily form

materialize the spirits of the dead

2

: to cause to be materialistic

intransitive verb

1

: to assume bodily form

2

a

: to appear especially suddenly

b

: to come into existence

materializer noun

Synonyms

• actualize
• appear
• arise
• begin
• break
• commence
• dawn
• engender
• form
• originate
• set in
• spring
• start

Examples of materialize in a Sentence

A waiter suddenly materialized beside our table.

Rain clouds materialized on the horizon.

Recent Examples on the Web

The vision is already starting to materialize: On Rogan, Andreessen harshly criticized the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a consumer-protection agency created in response to the 2008 financial crisis. —Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024

Indeed, if certain policy shifts materialize—diminished U.S. interest in India’s internal affairs, for instance, or reduced U.S. competition with Russia—New Delhi will even welcome Trump’s return. —Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2024

While electric vehicle sales are still expected to increase in the coming years, the boom in consumer demand for EVs that many car CEOs expected never materialized. —Ian Thomas, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2024

After all, the major expense or upheaval in response to a danger may not materialize in my lifetime. —Dev Patnaik, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

materialize

verb

ma·​te·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

materialized; materializing

1

: to give material form and substance to

2

: to assume or cause to assume bodily form

a ghost materialized out of nowhere

3

a

: to come into existence

a promise that never materialized

b

: to appear suddenly