realizing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "realizing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone has come to an understanding or become aware of something. For example, "He finally realized how special their relationship was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The first sense, "flat" realization, involves both realized and realizing properties inhering in a single object.

SEP

A 45-year-old suburban Minneapolis man wasted little time Thursday in claiming one-third of a $448m Powerball jackpot, coming forward only hours after realizing he had won to reveal his good fortune to the world.

The Guardian

I feel this song links to the UOMD trilogy by Michelle Hodkin as both the trilogy and the song are underlined with desperation and a dumbfounding weight of emotion; the feeling of not being able to escape a fate bigger and badder than you could have ever imagined and realizing that it doesn't matter how hard you try to hide your feelings or issues, that they'll always find you in the end.

The Guardian

He thinks that the Eurozone's economic woes mean "the whole thing is beginning to crack", and sketches out the unlikely-sounding scenario of David Cameron realizing his current approach to renegotiation isn't ambitious enough, and somehow leading an argument that would lead to a "a whole new architecture in Europe".

The Guardian

This show is, in a way, the most stream-lined version of The Bachelor formula: lots of dates, lots of roses, lots of women realizing that they must trade in their own bodies in an attempt to "win".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I was sitting there and realizing that there are so many homeless [young people] in New Orleans and they don't have a choice to be homeless or to go to school.

The Guardian - Money

Teague added then: "You don't want to downplay it, but you get to the point of realizing that it's just something he has to deal with at times".

The Guardian - Sport

Some have questioned whether the sound crew could have missed the bathroom confession when it was made, especially since Durst had previously spoken into a "hot" microphone without apparently realizing he was still being recorded.

The Guardian

Realizing that the caller might not be an actual employee of the airline, Ahmad asked for evidence of his employment.

The Guardian

And since, outside the US public pension sector, low rates mean higher liabilities, clients were realizing that their deficits will not suddenly disappear on the back of rising rates.On the theme of US pension funds, Mr Gardner pointed me to a blog by Alex White on his team about the key difference between arithmetic and geometric returns.

The Economist

And without quite realizing it, that is the message our government has been sending.Of course, it would be nice if the nominee is also a mom.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "realizing" to show a character's evolving understanding or a shift in perspective within your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "realizing" simply to describe a state of knowledge. Instead, use it to emphasize the moment of gaining insight or awareness. For example, instead of "He was realizing the truth", try "He was realizing the severity of the situation."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "realizing" is that of a present participle, often used as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund. As evidenced in the Ludwig examples, it describes an ongoing process of understanding or becoming aware.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "realizing" functions as a present participle, indicating an ongoing process of understanding or becoming aware. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and academic writing. When using "realizing", it's best practice to emphasize the moment of gaining insight rather than using it as a static state. Alternatives like "becoming aware" or "coming to understand" can provide subtle shifts in meaning. "Realizing" is a versatile term that enriches descriptions of evolving understanding and perspective shifts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming aware

Focuses on the process of gradually gaining awareness.

coming to understand

Emphasizes the arrival at a point of comprehension.

recognizing

Highlights the act of identifying or acknowledging something.

understanding

Stresses the state of having comprehension.

grasping

Implies a firm and complete understanding.

perceiving

Suggests becoming aware through the senses or intuition.

comprehending

Indicates a thorough and deep understanding.

appreciating

Highlights understanding the value or significance of something.

figuring out

Emphasizes the process of solving or discovering something.

becoming conscious of

Focuses on becoming aware at a conscious level.

FAQs

How can I use "realizing" in a sentence?

You can use "realizing" to describe the moment someone understands something, as in, "She was "realizing that she had made a mistake"".

What are some alternatives to using "realizing"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "becoming aware", "coming to understand", or "recognizing".

Is it correct to say "realizing of" instead of "realizing"?

While you might see "realization of" used, "realizing" itself doesn't typically take "of" after it when expressing understanding. For example, "realizing the importance" is correct.

What's the difference between "realizing" and "realising"?

"Realizing" and "realising" are the same word, with "realizing" being the preferred spelling in American English and "realising" being common in British English.