realise something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "realise something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when someone becomes aware of or understands a fact or situation that they previously did not recognize. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, I began to realise something important about the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

If it suddenly started to go up to 180 and 190 or something like that, I would realise something is going wrong.

BMC Family Practice

A series of such texts, each building on knowledge gleaned from the previous attack, gradually builds up the whole number.The victim of such an attack will probably not realise something is wrong until he looks at the decrypted text and realises it is gobbledygook.

The Economist

Then we realise something.

The Guardian - Travel

I'm beginning to realise something.

The Guardian - Opinion

During the pause that follows, I realise something.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And after about five years they really realise something about writing.

Independent

And as we traipse from sweaty street to swanky street, I realise something.

Independent

They keep you alive and make you realise something important is about to happen.

The Guardian - Sport

I began to get that creeping, unsteady feeling when you realise something is "game changing".

The Guardian - Tech

But even if you knew nothing of Chinese Democracy's history, you'd realise something was up.

The Guardian - Music

And the hope was Neurath could realise something similar in England's Black Country.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context. While "realise something" is generally acceptable, more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "become aware of something" or "recognize something".

Common error

Remember that "realise" is the British English spelling, while "realize" is American English. Use the spelling appropriate for your target audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "realise something" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of becoming aware of or understanding a particular fact, situation, or concept. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "realise something" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to indicate the act of understanding or becoming aware of something. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and appropriate for various contexts. While the British English spelling is "realise", the American English equivalent is "realize", so choose the correct spelling based on your audience. Alternatives such as "understand something" or "become aware of something" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. When you need to express the gaining of understanding, "realise something" is a clear and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understand something

Focuses more on comprehension and less on the moment of realization.

recognize something

Implies identifying something already known, rather than a new understanding.

become aware of something

More formal and emphasizes the state of being conscious of something.

come to understand something

Highlights the process of gaining understanding over time.

grasp something

Suggests a quick or intuitive understanding.

figure something out

Implies a problem-solving aspect to the understanding.

get something

More informal and general term for understanding.

fathom something

Suggests a deeper, more complex understanding.

perceive something

Emphasizes sensory or intuitive recognition.

comprehend something

A more formal synonym for understand, emphasizing thoroughness.

FAQs

How can I use "realise something" in a sentence?

You can use "realise something" to express the moment you become aware of a fact or situation. For example, "I didn't "recognise something" until it was too late" or "She began to "understand something" after the evidence was presented".

What can I say instead of "realise something"?

Alternatives include "understand something", "recognise something", "become aware of something", or "come to understand something" depending on the context.

Is "realise" British or American English?

"Realise" is the British English spelling, while "realize" is the American English spelling. Choose the spelling that is appropriate for your audience.

What's the difference between "realise something" and "understand something"?

"Realise something" often implies a sudden moment of awareness or understanding, whereas "understand something" suggests a more gradual or comprehensive grasp of a concept.