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.
-
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
-
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 was just really proud of her," Omar Al-Nouri added.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
“That’s really what it is. And that’s part of the game.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
She unlocks the door, saying she's "feeling really ungrateful now" and reiterating that "this is just where they are at the moment".
From BBC • May 22, 2026
And as a widely-circulated but controversial blog post by AI investor Matt Shumer External link put it, “If AI is smarter than most PhDs, do you really think it can’t do most office jobs?”
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
He wouldn’t really try to make me go through with getting married when he knew how interested I was in the shop.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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.
