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

And then, in early October, an altogether different project materialized—one that came from outside of the organization. —Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 7 Nov. 2024

Cruz has explored fights with fellow legend Jose Aldo in recent months, but nothing materialized. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Should Trump secure a win, for example, tariffs on Mexican imports could return, but the Mexican peso has already taken a hit against the U.S. dollar in recent months, possibly limiting further declines should such policies materialize. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Decades later, a fragment of that dream has begun to materialize, and residential towers with Space Age names — Evo, Aven, E11even — occupy former parking lots. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 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