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reality check

American

noun

a corrective confronting of reality, in order to counteract one's expectations, prejudices, or the like.

reality check British

noun

an occasion or opportunity to consider a matter realistically or honestly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

reality check Idioms

An assessment to determine if one's circumstances or expectations conform to reality, as in Time for a reality check—wasn't this supposed to be a money-making enterprise? [Slang; second half of 1900s]

Etymology

Origin of reality check

First recorded in 1970–75

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.

It might also serve as something of a reality check.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

While the reality check shows no evidence of “runaway retirement benefits,” that finding does not mean that benefits are optimally designed.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

"I gave him a reality check of what married life would be like."

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Then, he looked at the latest published numbers and got a reality check.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

The St. Paul Pioneer Press of June 13, which I eagerly snatch out of the box in front of Wal- Mart, provides an overdue reality check.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023