to materialize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to materialize" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that becomes real or actual, often after being planned or anticipated. Example: "After months of planning, the project finally began to materialize, and we could see our hard work paying off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Girls failed to materialize.

The New Yorker

Weather work failed to materialize.

The New York Times

But it failed to materialize.

The New York Times

Money pledged has been slow to materialize.

The New York Times

Gradually, a landscape began to materialize.

The New York Times

But those talks have failed to materialize.

The New York Times

But it has yet to materialize.

The New York Times

That dynamic threatens to materialize again.

The New York Times

But the corporate money failed to materialize.

The New York Times

The white students failed to materialize.

The New York Times

But that has yet to materialize.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to materialize" when you want to convey that something planned or expected is actually happening or becoming real. For example, "The promised investment failed "to materialize".

Common error

Avoid using "to materialize" when a more direct, active verb would be clearer. Instead of saying, "The project was materialized by the team", it's better to say, "The team materialized the project" or "The team completed the project".

Linguistic Context

The infinitive phrase "to materialize" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of something becoming real or actual. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The phrase often appears after auxiliary verbs, like "failed", "began", or "has yet", to express the status of an anticipated event or plan.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to materialize" signifies the process of something becoming real or actual. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, predominantly in news and media. The phrase generally functions as a verb phrase and has a neutral register. When writing, use it to convey that something planned or expected is happening, and avoid using it in passive voice constructions where active verbs are more appropriate. Semantically related phrases include "to come to fruition" and "to take shape". Overall, "to materialize" is a versatile and widely understood phrase for describing the realization of an anticipated event or plan.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to come to fruition

Emphasizes the successful development and completion of something planned.

to take shape

Focuses on the gradual formation and development of something.

to become a reality

Highlights the transformation from a potential to an actual state.

to come into being

Suggests the start of existence or appearance of something.

to be realized

Implies the achievement of a goal or plan.

to turn into something

Focuses on the transformation process and the end result.

to be made manifest

Emphasizes the clear and obvious appearance of something.

to see the light of day

Suggests the public appearance or release of something after a period of development.

to become concrete

Highlights the transformation from an abstract idea to something tangible.

to be brought about

Emphasizes the action of causing something to happen or exist.

FAQs

How can I use "to materialize" in a sentence?

You can use "to materialize" to indicate that something planned or expected is becoming real. For example, "The funding we were promised has yet "to materialize"".

What are some alternatives to "to materialize"?

Alternatives include "to come to fruition", "to take shape", or "to become a reality", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say something "failed to materialize"?

Yes, it is correct to say something "failed "to materialize"". This indicates that something expected or planned did not happen or become real.

What's the difference between "to materialize" and "to realize"?

"To materialize" refers to something becoming real or actual, while "to realize" often refers to understanding or achieving something. For example, "The project failed "to materialize"", versus "I finally "realized" my dream of becoming a writer".