real
real
Pronunciation
/ɹiːl/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
re- /ɹiː/
-al /l/
Word Form Variations
Adjective:
Positive: real (e.g., "a real diamond")
Comparative: realer (less common, often replaced by "more real" or "more genuine")
Superlative: realest (less common, often replaced by "most real" or "most genuine")
Adverb (informal/colloquial):
real (meaning "very" or "really"; e.g., "It's real good.")
Noun (less common, often referring to specific contexts):
Singular: real (e.g., "the real of the situation," often in philosophical or mathematical contexts like "real numbers")
Plural: reals (e.g., "real numbers")
Note: "Real" can also be a monetary unit in some countries (e.g., Brazilian Real), in which case its plural is reais or reales.
Related word forms (from the same word family):
Noun:
realism
realist
reality
unreality
realization
realness
Verb:
realize
Adjective:
unreal
realistic
unrealistic
Adverb:
really
realistically
unrealistically
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition: Existing as a tangible fact or verifiable truth; not imaginary, fictional, or simulated.
Synonyms: actual, genuine, authentic, factual, concrete, verifiable, veritable, existent, true, substantial.
Antonyms: imaginary, fictitious, fake, artificial, synthetic, counterfeit, false, fictional, simulated, unreal.
Definition: Characterized by sincerity and absence of pretense; honest and unfeigned.
Synonyms: sincere, genuine, unfeigned, heartfelt, authentic, honest, true, earnest, candid.
Antonyms: insincere, fake, feigned, superficial, disingenuous, artificial, affected, pretended.
Definition: Having significant or substantial impact; truly important or considerable.
Synonyms: significant, substantial, considerable, serious, meaningful, profound, important, weighty.
Antonyms: trivial, insignificant, minor, negligible, superficial, inconsequential, paltry.
Definition: (Informal, as an intensifier) Absolutely or completely; used to emphasize a quality or characteristic.
Synonyms: absolute, complete, utter, true, proper, definite, perfect.
Antonyms: partial, incomplete, slight, nominal.
Adverb
Definition: (Informal) To a great extent or degree; very much; effectively serving as an intensifier for an adjective or another adverb.
Synonyms: really, very, truly, quite, genuinely, exceedingly.
Antonyms: slightly, barely, hardly, scarcely, somewhat.
Noun
Definition: That which actually exists or is objectively true, as opposed to what is imagined, ideal, or merely possible. Often used with "the."
Synonyms: actuality, reality, existence, truth, fact.
Antonyms: illusion, fantasy, fiction, dream, unreality, delusion.
Definition: (Mathematics) A number that can be plotted on a continuous number line; any rational or irrational number.
Synonyms: (Specific to mathematics, no direct common synonyms)
Antonyms: imaginary number, complex number (specifically referring to the imaginary component).
Definition: A former or current monetary unit in various countries (e.g., Brazilian Real, Portuguese Real).
Synonyms: (Specific to currency, no direct common synonyms)
Antonyms: (None, as it refers to a specific currency)
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a real pleasure to meet you." (From general conversational dialogue in many novels.)
"He tried to separate the dream from the real." (From philosophical or introspective literature.)
"The story highlights the real challenges faced by immigrants." (From non-fiction works discussing social issues)
Newspapers:
"The city faces a real threat of water shortages this summer." (The Standard)
"Is the economic recovery real or just an illusion?" (The Wall Street Journal)
"Police are urging the public to be aware of real scams targeting online shoppers." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Researchers have made real progress in developing a new vaccine." (Nature.com)
"Five tips for finding real friendship in the digital age." (PsychologyToday.com)
"Opinion: The real cost of fast fashion on the environment." (The Guardian online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "This isn't a game, this is real life." (Often heard in action or drama films.)
Television Series: "Is that a real dinosaur, or just special effects?" (From discussions around fantasy/sci-fi shows.)
Music (Song Title/Lyric): "The Real Slim Shady" (Eminem, 2000) or "I want something real." (Common lyric expressing desire for authenticity.)
Video Games: "Collecting real-world artifacts can unlock special in-game rewards." (From game descriptions or community forums for augmented reality games, e.g., Pokémon Go.)
Podcasts: "We delve into the real stories behind historical events." (From history podcast descriptions.)
General Public Discourse:
"That's a real shame about what happened."
"Do you think he's being real with us?"
"This coffee is real good." (Informal use as an adverb)
"We need to have a real conversation about this."
10 Quotes Using Real
"Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you." (Margery Williams Bianco, The Velveteen Rabbit)
"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." (Walter Winchell)
"Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real." (Tupac Shakur)
"The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection." (Thomas Paine)
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." (Marcel Proust)
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength." (Saint Francis de Sales)
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." (Confucius)
"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." (Abraham Lincoln)
"The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible." (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." (Mahatma Gandhi)
Etymology
The word "real" comes to us from Latin through French.
It started in Latin with the word "realis," which meant "actual" or "belonging to a thing." This word, in turn, came from "res," meaning "thing, matter, affair." So, at its very root, "real" was about something being a genuine "thing" or existing in fact.
This Latin term then made its way into Old French as "reel," carrying the same sense of "actual" or "true."
The first known use of "real" in English dates back to the late 14th century. At that time, its primary meaning was "actual, true, existing as a fact," directly reflecting its Latin and Old French origins. It was used to distinguish something that genuinely existed from something that was imagined, fake, or merely theoretical. For example, people might have talked about a "real" king as opposed to a pretend one, or a "real" battle as opposed to a fictional story.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Real
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "real":
For real: Genuinely, truly; used to emphasize sincerity or truth.
Get real: An exclamation telling someone to be more realistic or practical.
The real deal: An authentic, genuine, or highly capable person or thing.
In real time: Occurring or being processed at the exact same time as the event being described.
Real estate: Property consisting of land and buildings.
Real world: The actual world or life, as opposed to an idealized or theoretical one.
Real talk: Honest and direct conversation without pretense.
Real man/woman: Someone embodying traditional or idealized masculine/feminine qualities (can be clichéd).
Real McCoy: The genuine article; something that is authentic and not an imitation.
To get a real kick out of something: To enjoy something very much.
A real nail-biter: A very exciting or tense situation (often sports or suspenseful events).
A real eye-opener: Something that reveals a surprising or important truth.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of real from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
