really
Americanadverb
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in reality; actually.
to see things as they really are.
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genuinely or truly.
a really honest man.
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indeed.
Really, this is too much.
interjection
adverb
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in reality; in actuality; assuredly
it's really quite harmless
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truly; genuinely
really beautiful
interjection
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an exclamation of dismay, disapproval, doubt, surprise, etc
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an exclamation of surprise or polite doubt
Etymology
Origin of really
First recorded in 1400–50; real 1 ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
The adverb really refers to something actual or genuine. If your ring is really pure gold, does that mean he really likes you? Although the actual origin of really is unknown, it was first used in the 15th Century in the Eucharist, referring to the actual presence of Christ, and that definition holds today. Another use of the word, that of a questioning interjection ("Oh, really?"), was first recorded in 1815 and carries with it a sense of disbelief. Oh, really? You're late to work because the bus was attacked by a pack of wild boars? Do you really expect your boss to believe that?
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I said, ‘really? The negotiations off,’ that’s a tap along, right?
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
Don’t miss: Microsoft’s stock hasn’t been this oversold in a decade, with the tech giant ‘really losing the AI narrative’
From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026
What we have discovered is that 'merely incidental' does not mean ‘really small,’” Kogan told Salon.
From Salon • Jan. 9, 2025
Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou disappointed by 'really poor goal'
From BBC • Dec. 5, 2024
Of course, mother, I know; but this time I want to slay a 'really and truly' dragon, may I?
From Fairy Tales from the German Forests by Arndt, Margaret
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
