realised

USAGE SUMMARY

"realised" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to mean "to come to understand or appreciate something." Example sentence: After spending the day with the elderly people in the charity home, I realised how difficult it can be to live alone in later life.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I've never done anything like this before and, in hindsight, I have realised it was a silly thing to do".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I had wanted to protect Mora from conceding more goals but then I realised that I risked ruining two goalkeepers' confidence on the same day so I left Mora in".

The Guardian - Sport

Rodríguez realised his team were just too ragged and were now at risk of a rout.

The Guardian - Sport

The Caribs soon realised they'd been had and started to make life as difficult as possible for the French, who sent out a hunting party to teach them a lesson.

The Guardian - Travel

"I realised what a sweet, charming man he was.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Watching television and listening to the radio, I soon realised that here was a widely held sentiment: a visceral opposition to what one critic suggested we should literally call "the nanny state".

The Guardian - Opinion

"We realised our consultations were becoming longer and more complex," Smith says in the presentation.

The Guardian

Maybe it's because she's just realised that she's only the eighth lead in this film after a bunch of male nipples.

The Guardian - Film

We had our first order within half an hour of launching the business – we were really excited and then realised it was for a material swatch [samples of fabric].

The Guardian

During a recent trip to South Africa, as a finalist in the Guardian International Development Journalism competition, I realised my disfigurement could have been a potential barrier when interviewing case studies in the townships; I had to make the interviewees feel comfortable looking at my face.

The Guardian

He had also obtained a PhD in Islamic studies from the Islamic University of Baghdad, and would draw on both to legitimise his unprecedented claim to anoint himself caliph of the Islamic world in July 2014, which realised a sense of destiny evident in the prison yard a decade earlier.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of the spelling difference between "realised" (British English) and "realized" (American English) to ensure consistency in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "realise" when you need the past simple tense. "Realise" is the base form, while "realised" is the past simple and past participle.

Linguistic Context

The word "realised" primarily functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb "realise". It describes the action of becoming aware of something or understanding a fact. Ludwig confirms the word is valid and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "realised" is the past tense and past participle of "realise", predominantly used to express the act of understanding or becoming aware of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. The spelling "realised" is common in British English, while "realized" is preferred in American English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for a wide range of writing. When using "realised", ensure it reflects a moment of changed perception. Alternatives like "came to understand" or "became aware" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understood

A simpler, more direct synonym for comprehending something.

came to understand

Emphasizes the process of reaching understanding over time.

figured out

An informal way of saying someone solved a problem or understood a situation.

became aware

Focuses on gaining knowledge or perception.

recognized

Highlights the act of identifying something previously known or unknown.

grasped

Suggests a firm understanding or quick comprehension.

perceived

Implies understanding through observation or intuition.

identified

Focuses on pinpointing a specific thing or situation.

ascertained

Indicates a confirmed understanding through investigation or discovery.

became conscious of

Highlights an increasing sense of mindfulness or awareness of something.

FAQs

How do you use "realised" in a sentence?

"Realised" is the past tense and past participle of "realise". For example, "I "realised I was wrong"" or "Having realised the danger, he retreated".

What's the difference between "realised" and "realized"?

"Realised" is the British English spelling, while "realized" is the American English spelling. Both are the past tense and past participle of "realise/realize".

What can I say instead of "I realised"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "I "came to understand"", "I "became aware"", or "I "understood"".

Is it correct to say "I have realised"?

Yes, "I have realised" is grammatically correct. It's the present perfect tense of "realise", indicating an action completed at an unspecified time in the past that has relevance to the present.