unrealized

IPA/ˌʌnˈriːəlaɪzd/
KK[ənrˈiəlˌaɪzd]IPA/ˌʌnˈriːəlaɪzd/

unrealized — adjective

  • unrealizedpositive
  • more unrealizedcomparative
  • most unrealizedsuperlative

1. describes a goal, wish, or ambition that people expected would happen but that n

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a goal, wish, or ambition that people expected would happen but that never actually came about or was made real

Example

Sayaka's plan to study abroad remained unrealized after the scholarship fell through.

remain unrealized = stay unfulfilled

The village's unrealized hope for a new school was discussed again at the town meeting.

unrealized + hope (typical noun partner)

Common collocations
  • unrealized dream
  • unrealized plan
  • unrealized hope
  • unrealized goal
  • unrealized potential
  • unrealized ambition
  • unrealized project
  • remain unrealized
Synonyms
  • unfulfilled

    more emotional, often used for personal wishes or feelings

  • unachieved

    more neutral, common in goal-setting and business contexts

  • frustrated

    more formal; emphasizes that something blocked the plan

Antonyms
  • realized

    the direct opposite

  • achieved

    commonly used in performance reviews and goal contexts

  • fulfilled

    used for dreams, wishes, or potential

Grammar Patterns

unrealized + noun (dream, plan, hope, goal, potential)

Usage Note

Typically found in formal or written English rather than everyday conversation. The noun it describes is almost always something positive that people wanted: a dream, a hope, a plan, or potential. Frequently used with the verb 'remain' (to stay unrealized).

Common Mistakes

His dream of becoming a pilot was unrealized because he was not smart enough.
His dream of becoming a pilot was unrealistic because he was not smart enough.
'Unrealized' means something possible failed to happen; 'unrealistic' means the goal was never possible in the first place.

2. describes a gain or loss in the value of an asset that a person or company still

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a gain or loss in the value of an asset that a person or company still owns — the change in worth exists on paper but will only become final when the asset is sold

Example

Rising property prices created an unrealized gain for every homeowner in the district.

unrealized gain from rising asset value

Ravindra's unrealized losses grew larger as the stock price kept falling month after month.

Common collocations
  • unrealized gain
  • unrealized loss
  • unrealized profit
  • unrealized revenue
  • unrealized capital gain
Synonyms
  • paper

    informal shortening: 'paper gain' or 'paper loss' means the same thing

  • book

    used in accounting: 'book profit' refers to what the accounts show

Antonyms
  • realized

    the gain or loss that becomes final when the asset is sold

  • actual

    cash in hand after a sale

  • cash

    the realised, tangible result

Grammar Patterns

unrealized + gain / loss / profit

Usage Note

Almost always appears directly before the nouns 'gain', 'loss', 'profit', or 'revenue'. Frequently encountered in financial reports, accounting documents, and investment news. The opposite term is 'realized' — for example, a realized gain is the profit you actually keep after selling.

Common Mistakes

The profit shown is unreal because the stock has not been sold.
The profit shown is unrealized because the stock has not been sold.
'Unreal' means imaginary or fake; 'unrealized' means the figure is genuine but temporary because the asset is still held.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three synonyms — unfulfilled, unachieved, and frustrated — describe something that did not happen, but they differ in tone and context. 'Unfulfilled' leans emotional: unfulfilled wishes, unfulfilled love, unfulfilled people. 'Unachieved' is neutral and factual: unachieved goals, unachieved targets. 'Frustrated' is more formal and suggests an external force blocked the plan: frustrated ambitions, frustrated efforts. 'Unreal' is a common false friend — it means 'imaginary' or 'not possible,' which is the opposite of 'unrealized', which means something possible that simply did not occur. For example: 'Her Olympic dream remained unrealized after injury' vs. 'Becoming a professional athlete at age 50 is unrealistic.'

unfulfilled ↗unachieved ↗frustrated ↗unreal ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') to 'realized', the past participle of 'realize'. The verb 'realize' comes from French 'réaliser', which was built from 'réel' ('actual'), tracing back to Latin 'realis' (relating to things). The financial use of 'unrealized' (for gains and losses not yet turned into cash) became common in the early 1900s as modern accounting developed.

First known use

1767

1767, in the meaning defined above