adj
unreal
uhn-REE-uhl
adj
1
Not real; existing only in imagination or seeming to lack the solidity of reality.
"The whole event felt unreal, like a dream."
"Special effects gave the film an unreal, dreamlike quality."
2
(informal) Extremely impressive or hard to believe.
"That comeback in the final minute was unreal."
"The view from the summit was absolutely unreal."
How to Use Unreal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot grounded in reality — or, informally, so impressive it barely seems real.
When to use it
The "amazing" sense is casual and conversational, common in speech rather than formal writing.
Common pairings
feel unreal
seem unreal
totally unreal
Word Forms
more unreal comparative, most unreal superlative
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The whole event felt _____, like a dream.
Etymology
From un- ("not") plus real.