dematerializes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dematerializes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing the process of something becoming immaterial or disappearing, often in a metaphorical or scientific sense. Example: "As the magician waved his wand, the rabbit seemed to dematerialize into thin air."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Still, the sign is visually stunning, like an IMAX screen in the middle of a Manhattan street, and it all but dematerializes the façade, turning it from an object of glass and metal into a cavalcade of constantly changing colors and shapes.

The New Yorker

Hi's apologetic expression when he dematerializes this monster is Nicolas Cage at his most winning.

The New Yorker

But the vanity of Iñárritu's style, its conspicuous striving after effect, achieves the opposite result — it dematerializes the production and disembodies the performances, calls attention not to the rigors of the shoot but to the extraordinary care and handling, the extraordinary industrial equipment, that went into maintaining the actors and their well-being in inhospitable conditions.

The New Yorker

Periodically, his late-Romantic orchestra dematerializes: heavy instruments recede, and chiming tones of harp, xylophone, and celesta (the sound of Tchaikovsky's Sugar Plum Fairy) take over.

The New Yorker

As art dematerializes, the scale has grown larger.

The New Yorker

The chainsaw-wielding Ursula von Rydingsvard has devised a bronze sculpture that dematerializes as it rises, from solid blocks into a gauzy mesh.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Forms in their pictures lost their clear outlines and became dematerialized, shimmering and vibrating in a re-creation of actual outdoor conditions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the 1970s Prix and Swiczinsky, who had both studied at the Technical University of Vienna, created designs that dematerialized the heaviness of conventional architecture through unexpected airy angles and complicated spatial solutions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His last sculpture also went through several revisions on the same block of stone and in its current state is an almost dematerialized sketch of two figures leaning together.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nevertheless, he joined a growing chorus of people calling for the elimination of individual actors' idiosyncrasies and the "dematerializing" of the stage and propelled these demands into public debate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The exquisite rhythm of the lines and dematerialized forms of Gabriel and Mary in the central portion of The Annunciation led a number of artists to imitation, but none of them achieved such vibrant contours and such spirited forms as did Simone in this great masterpiece.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dematerializes" when you want to convey a sense of something becoming less tangible, disappearing in a subtle or transformative way, often in contexts of art, technology, or philosophy.

Common error

Avoid using "dematerializes" in everyday conversation where simpler words like "disappears" or "vanishes" would be more appropriate. Its technical connotation can sound pretentious in casual settings.

Linguistic Context

"Dematerializes" functions as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form. It describes an action of something losing its material form or substance. Ludwig examples show its use in describing art, architecture, and abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dematerializes" is the third-person singular present tense of the verb "dematerialize", meaning to lose material form. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While not extremely common, it appears in reputable sources such as The New Yorker and The New York Times, often in discussions related to art, architecture, and abstract concepts. Related terms include "disappears" and "vanishes", but "dematerializes" implies a more transformative or ethereal quality. Use it to describe something becoming less tangible in a subtle or technical way.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disappears

Replaces a more technical term with a common word for vanishing.

vanishes

Similar to "disappears" but suggests a sudden and complete disappearance.

fades away

Implies a gradual disappearance, often suggesting a loss of visibility or audibility.

dissolves

Suggests a breaking down or disintegration into smaller parts until nothing remains.

evaporates

Implies a change of state from liquid or solid to vapor, leading to disappearance.

becomes immaterial

Focuses on the transformation from a physical state to a non-physical one.

loses substance

Highlights the loss of physical presence or solidity.

ceases to exist

A more formal way of saying something disappears entirely.

is no longer visible

Focuses specifically on the loss of visual presence.

turns to nothing

Emphasizes the complete annihilation or disappearance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "dematerializes" in a sentence?

You can use "dematerializes" to describe something losing its physical form or becoming less substantial. For example, "The sculpture "dematerializes" as it rises, from solid blocks into a gauzy mesh."

What's the difference between "dematerializes" and "disappears"?

"Dematerializes" suggests a more transformative or ethereal disappearance, often implying a shift from physical to non-physical, while "disappears" is a general term for something ceasing to be visible.

What are some alternatives to "dematerializes"?

Alternatives include "vanishes", "fades away", or "dissolves", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "dematerializes" a formal word?

Yes, "dematerializes" is generally considered a formal word, often used in academic, artistic, or technical contexts. Simpler words might be preferable in informal situations.