The full significance of her words did not instantly appear to him.
Only after he said it, did he realize the significance of his words.
It was an instant before I had grasped the significance of her words.
The three younger men looked happier at the moment as they seemed to realize the significance of her words.
And because it had been spontaneous, she failed to see the significance of her words.
The full significance of her words did not seem to come to me all at once.
Suddenly, for the first time, I realized the significance of his words.
Suddenly he was struck by the significance of his words in relation to what she had said.
General G. paused to allow the significance of his words time to sink in.
Her eyes opened wide as she caught the significance of her own words.