Re"al*ize (rē"al*īz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Realized (- īzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Realizing (- ī`z&ibreve;ng).] [Cf. F. réaliser.] 1. To make real; to convert from the imaginary or fictitious into the actual; to bring into concrete existence; to effectuate; to accomplish; as, to realize a scheme or project.

We realize what Archimedes had only in hypothesis, weighing a single grain against the globe of earth.

2. To cause to seem real; to impress upon the mind as actual; to feel vividly or strongly; to make one's own in apprehension or experience.

Many coincidences . . . soon begin to appear in them [Greek inscriptions] which realize ancient history to us.

We can not realize it in thought, that the object . . . had really no being at any past moment.

3. To convert into real property; to make real estate of; as, to realize his fortune.

4. To acquire as an actual possession; to obtain as the result of plans and efforts; to gain; to get; as, to realize large profits from a speculation.

Knighthood was not beyond the reach of any man who could by diligent thrift realize a good estate.

5. To convert into actual money; as, to realize assets.

Re"al*ize, v. i. To convert any kind of property into money, especially property representing investments, as shares in stock companies, bonds, etc.

Wary men took the alarm, and began to realize, a word now first brought into use to express the conversion of ideal property into something real.

• To make real; to convert from the imaginary or fictitious into the actual; to bring into concrete existence; to accomplish; as, to realize a scheme or project.
       "We realize what Archimedes had only in hypothesis, weighting a single grain against the globe of earth." — Glanvill.
  
• To cause to seem real; to impress upon the mind as actual; to feel vividly or strongly; to make one's own in apprehension or experience.
       "Many coincidences . . . soon begin to appear in them which realize ancient history to us." — Jowett.
       "We can not realize it in thought, that the object . . . had really no being at any past moment." — Sir W. Hamilton.
  
• To convert into real property; to make real estate of; as, to realize his fortune.
  
• To acquire as an actual possession; to obtain as the result of plans and efforts; to gain; to get; as, to realize large profits from a speculation.
       "Knighthood was not beyond the reach of any man who could by diligent thrift realize a good estate." — Macaulay.
  
• To convert into actual money; as, to realize assets.
  
• To convert any kind of property into money, especially property representing investments, as shares in stock companies, bonds, etc.
       "Wary men took the alarm, and began to realize, a word now first brought into use to express the conversion of ideal property into something real." — W. Irving.
  
• (followed by that) To become aware that (a fact is true).
       He realized that he had left his umbrella on the train.