materialize

materialize — verb

1. When an object or person materializes, it appears or arrives in a sudden, surpri

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

When an object or person materializes, it appears or arrives in a sudden, surprising way — as if coming from nowhere.

例句

A police car suddenly materialized out of the thick morning fog.

materialize out of [something]

Asher was about to leave when Tamar materialized at the front door.

materialize at [place]

同義詞
  • appear

    more general; does not carry the sense of suddenness or mystery

  • emerge

    suggests coming out from a hidden place, often more gradual

  • pop up

    informal; sudden but less dramatic than materialize

反義詞
  • disappear

    the opposite of appearing

  • vanish

    sudden disappearance, matching the suddenness of materialize

文法句型

materialize + adverb of place or manner

用法筆記

Often used with an adverb or phrase describing how or where the appearance happens (e.g., out of nowhere, from behind, beside someone).

常見錯誤

❌The cat slowly materialized from behind the sofa.
✅The cat suddenly appeared from behind the sofa.
💡materialize implies suddenness, not gradual movement.
❌A rainbow materialized after the rain stopped.
✅A rainbow appeared after the rain stopped.
💡materialize suggests a more mysterious or unexpected appearance than a natural phenomenon.

2. If a plan, hope, or dream materializes, it happens or starts to exist in the way

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

If a plan, hope, or dream materializes, it happens or starts to exist in the way that was hoped or expected.

例句

Their plans to open a small bakery never materialized after the flood.

never materialized — common negative pattern

Ingrid's dream of studying abroad finally materialized when she won a scholarship.

dream materializes — abstract subject

同義詞
  • come true

    used mainly for dreams, wishes, and predictions; more informal

  • happen

    neutral and general; less specific to expectations

  • come to fruition

    formal; emphasizes successful completion after effort

反義詞
  • fail

    general opposite; a plan that does not happen

  • fall through

    informal; describes a plan that fails after being arranged

文法句型

materialize, especially of hopes, plans, or dreams

用法筆記

Commonly used in negative or conditional contexts — e.g., the hoped-for result never materialized or did not materialize as planned.

常見錯誤

❌The dinner party materialized at 7 p.m.
✅The dinner party happened at 7 p.m.
💡materialize is not used for scheduled social events.
❌The cake materialized in the oven.
✅The cake appeared in the oven.
💡materialize for physical objects belongs to sense 1 (sudden/unexplained), not for everyday cooking.