expand or complete (a part in a piece of baroque music) by supplying the harmonies indicated in the figured bass
"The young cellist realized the complex Baroque concerto during her summer masterclass, carefully filling in every chord suggested by the harpsichordist's figures."
To make real; to convert from the imaginary or fictitious into reality; to bring into real existence
"The architect worked tirelessly to realize her vision of a sustainable glass tower that would eventually rise above the city skyline."
In plain English: To realize means to finally understand or become aware of something that was true all along.
"She realized she had left her keys in the car."
Usage: Use realize when you mean becoming aware of something, not when referring to making an idea physically exist. If your goal is to describe bringing a concept into actuality rather than understanding it, choose make real instead.
Example Sentences
"She realized she had left her keys in the car."verb
"I finally realized that I had left my keys at home."verb
"She did not realize how much the storm would affect travel plans until she saw the news."verb
"You will soon realize just how important it is to save money regularly."verb
The English verb "realize" comes from the Old French réaliser, meaning "to make real." It entered English with this sense of converting something into assets or cash before its meaning broadened to include understanding a fact.