REE-uh-leyezd
/ˈɹiəˌlaɪzd/
realized is pronounced REE-uh-leyezd (/ˈɹiəˌlaɪzd/). Realized means to became aware of something or to understand clearly, often after thought or experience. It can also signify that something has come into being or been achieved. In use, it conveys a moment of recognition or attainment, whether about a fact, outcome, or plan.
Realized means to became aware of something or to understand clearly, often after thought or experience. It can also signify that something has come into being or been achieved. In use, it conveys a moment of recognition or attainment, whether about a fact, outcome, or plan.
"She realized that she had left her keys at home and turned back."
"Over time, he realized the importance of consistency in studying."
"After reading the report, they realized the project was feasible within budget."
Realized is pronounced with three syllables: /ˈriː.ə.laɪzd/. Stress falls on the first syllable, 'REEL-'. The middle is a schwa /ə/, and the final is /laɪzd/ (rhymes with 'praised'). Tip: keep the long /iː/ in the first syllable, then smoothly connect to /ə/ before the /laɪzd/ ending. Audio guidance: search for 'realized pronunciation' in Forvo or YouGlish to hear native usage.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing the /l/ or reducing the middle /ə/ too much, causing /ˈriːlɪzd/ instead of /ˈriː.ə.laɪzd/. (2) Slurring the final /zd/ into a flat /z/ or /d/; it should be a voiced dz combination /laɪzd/. Focus on keeping a clear /ə/ before /laɪzd/ and finishing with a clean /d/ after the /z/. Practice with slow syllable taps to secure the glide and final consonant.” ,
In US/UK/AU, the core /riː.ə.laɪzd/ remains, but rhoticity affects the initial r. US and AU commonly retain the rhotic /r/; UK often features a non-rhotic /r/ depending on speaker (often silent before vowels in some dialects). Vowel quality in the first syllable (/riː/) is a long /iː/ in all; the middle /ə/ can reduce more in rapid UK speech; the final /laɪzd/ maintains a clear /laɪ/ with a voiced /d/ release in all. Pay attention to linking in connected speech in US and AU; UK may show tighter enunciation.ipa
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable structure with a non-stressful middle schwa that can blur, and the final /laɪzd/ cluster where /z/ and /d/ are both voiced and can blur in rapid speech. Also, the transition from the long /iː/ to the /ə/ requires a careful, short schwa, then a smooth glide into /laɪ/. Mastery requires controlled timing of the /ɪ/ vs /ə/ simplifications and precise tongue contact for the /l/ and /z/ sounds.
Why is the /ˈriː.ə.laɪzd/ sequence especially sensitive to rhythm when spoken in rapid narrative, and how does that rhythm affect the perception of the /laɪzd/ ending in connected speech? The answer: the primary stress on the first syllable and the rapid transition from /ə/ to /laɪ/ can compress the middle syllable, making the final /laɪzd/ sound either crisp or muted depending on tempo and mouth tension. IPA-guided practice helps stabilize the ending.
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The verb realize comes from the Middle English realizen, from Old French realizing, derived from the Late Latin realis, from res (thing, matter). The sense evolution traces from making something actual or tangible (to realize a plan or property) to perceiving or understanding something clearly. The root res carries the general meaning of thing or matter, which extended into law and property (to realize a claim, to realize value). In English, realize appeared in the 16th century, initially around meanings like ‘to make real’ or ‘to cause to become real’ and later broadening to cognitive recognition: “to realize” a fact or possibility. By the 18th–19th centuries, realize also carried idiomatic senses such as realizing an ambition or realization of potential. The spelling and pronunciation standardize around /ˈriːəlaɪzd/ in American and British varieties, with minor differences in vowel duration. The word’s semantic development reflects the shift from tangible realization (making something real) to conceptual awareness (recognition or understanding). First known uses are found in legal and philosophical texts where realization meant conversion of rights or property into actual possession, later broadening for everyday cognitive insight and affective enlightenment. Today, realize commonly coordinates with planning, comprehension, and the attainment of goals or realizations about outcomes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "realized" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "realized"
-zed sounds
-sed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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