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

Spirit is facing possible bankruptcy after a prior merger with JetBlue failed to materialize. —Jj Kinahan, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

But the results from those grants and talent pipelines could take years to materialize. —Steph Solis, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024

An accompanying album, which some hoped would arrive soon after, fails to materialize. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024

My view is obviously short-term here with just over 30 days for this spread to materialize. —Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 11 Oct. 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