real
reel
Real (adj) means Actually existing or happening, rather than imagined, fictional, or invented. Example: “The story is based on real events.”
adj
1
Actually existing or happening, rather than imagined, fictional, or invented.
"The story is based on real events."
"Is that a real diamond?"
"Do not worry, the noise was real, not just a bad dream."
2
Genuine and sincere, not fake or pretended.
"Her concern for him seemed completely real."
"He gave her a real smile, not just a polite one."
"I want real feedback from you, not empty compliments."
3
In economics, adjusted for inflation so it reflects true purchasing power.
"Real wages have barely risen in a decade, even though pay cheques look bigger."
"Prices rose, but in real terms our income stayed about the same."
"Once inflation is taken into account, the real value of savings fell."
adv
1
Very; really, used informally.
"That's real nice of you."
"This soup is real good, you should try some."
"He ran real fast to catch the last bus home."
How to use real
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishActually existing, true, or genuine, as opposed to fake, imagined, or pretend.
Common mistake
In economics, "real" means adjusted for inflation, as opposed to "nominal," which is the raw, unadjusted figure.
Common pairings
real life
real deal
real wages
get real
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Word forms
- Plural
- reals, reales, reis, reais
- Comparative
- realer, more real
- Superlative
- realest, most real
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The story is based on _____ events.
Etymology
From Old French reel, from Late Latin reālis ("actual"), ultimately from Latin res ("thing, matter").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for real
See all rhymes for real →Frequently asked questions
What does “real” mean?
The word “real” means actually existing or happening, rather than imagined, fictional, or invented. In plain terms, actually existing, true, or genuine, as opposed to fake, imagined, or pretend.
How do you pronounce “real”?
“Real” is pronounced reel (/ˈɹi.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “real” in a sentence?
Here is “real” used in a sentence: “The story is based on real events.”
What is another word for “real”?
Words with a similar meaning to “real” include true, actual, authentic, genuine, heartfelt and based.
What is the opposite of “real”?
The opposite of “real” — its antonyms — are imaginary, nonreal, unreal, artificial and counterfeit.
What part of speech is “real”?
Depending on how it is used, “real” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “real” come from?
The word “real” comes from Late Latin. From Old French reel, from Late Latin reālis ("actual"), ultimately from Latin res ("thing, matter").
Is “real” a common word?
“Real” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between real and true?
'Real' means something actually exists in the physical or factual world, as opposed to imaginary or invented — a real person, a real diamond. 'True' means something is accurate or correct, matching the facts — a true statement. An object is real; a claim about it is true or false.
What is the difference between real and fake?
'Real' means genuine and actually what it appears to be; 'fake' means imitation, forged, or false. A real signature was written by the person themselves, while a fake one is a copy meant to deceive. The pair sits at opposite ends of the same scale, from authentic to counterfeit.
What is the opposite of real?
'Real' has several opposites depending on context. Something not real can be imaginary, fictional, or made up; an object can be fake, artificial, or counterfeit; a situation can be virtual or hypothetical. What unites them is that they do not actually exist in the way real things do.
What is an example of real?
A real event is one that genuinely happened, like a historical battle, as opposed to a scene in a novel. Real gold is the actual metal, not gold-coloured plastic. In each case 'real' confirms that the thing exists in fact rather than in imagination or imitation.
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