noun
reality
ree-A-lih-tee
noun
1
The state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they are imagined or wished to be.
"The reality of the situation finally sank in."
"She had to face reality and admit the plan had failed."
2
Television programming that follows real, unscripted people and situations.
"He became famous after appearing on a reality show."
How to Use Reality
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe way things truly are, as opposed to how we imagine, hope, or fear they might be.
Common pairings
face reality
in reality
reality check
reality TV
Word Forms
realities plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “reality”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the situation finally sank in.
Etymology
From French réalité, ultimately from Late Latin reālis ("real"); first used in English for "fixed property" before coming to mean "real existence" by the mid-1600s.