materialize

verb

ma·​te·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce materialize (audio)
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

Examples of materialize in a Sentence

A waiter suddenly materialized beside our table. Rain clouds materialized on the horizon.
Recent Examples on the Web This comes after a party plenum, top Communist Party officials were expected to set out an economic agenda, failed to materialize as expected late last year. Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 Reay, however, points out that some of that distress already has materialized. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 However, the demand for this technology—as well as how that demand is likely to materialize—has the potential to far exceed those investments. Rodrigo Madanes, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Analysts say Iranians have also lost confidence in elections after repeatedly voting for reformist lawmakers and presidents who pledged changes in foreign and economic policy and more individual rights that mostly failed to materialize. Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 The economic consequences materialized in the 1980s, with growth markedly slowing once the country had made the easy gains in catching up to more advanced economies. Barry Eichengreen, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Hurry up and wait If that is the case, lower interest rates may not begin to materialize until late spring or early summer. Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2024 Since then, a remarkable recovery has materialized: After sweeping the Bay Area teams, UCLA has won six of seven, climbed into a third-place tie and positioned itself as a very difficult out in the Pac-12 tournament. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2024 Starter Jeff Weaver waited and waited for a long-term deal that never materialized and settled for one-year contracts. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'materialize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of materialize was in 1710

Dictionary Entries Near materialize

Cite this Entry

“Materialize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/materialize. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

materialize

verb
ma·​te·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce materialize (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on materialize

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