When people show realism in their behaviour, they recognize and accept the true nature of a situation and try to deal with it in a practical way.
[approval]
It was time now to show more political realism.
The early ambitions of youthful enthusiasm soon become tempered with realism.
Synonyms: pragmatism, common sense, practicality, level-headedness More Synonyms of realism
2. uncountable noun
If things and people are presented with realism in paintings, stories, or films, they are presented in a way that is like real life.
[approval]
Greene's stories had an edge of realism that made it easy to forget they were fiction.
Sincere performances and gritty Boston settings add to the film's realism.
Synonyms: authenticity, naturalism, verisimilitude, fidelity More Synonyms of realism
realism in British English
(ˈrɪəˌlɪzəm)
noun
1.
awareness or acceptance of the physical universe, events, etc, as they are, as opposed to the abstract or ideal
2.
awareness or acceptance of the facts and necessities of life; a practical rather than a moral or dogmatic view of things
3.
a style of painting and sculpture that seeks to represent the familiar or typical in real life, rather than an idealized, formalized, or romantic interpretation of it
4.
any similar school or style in other arts, esp literature
5. philosophy
the thesis that general terms such as common nouns refer to entities that have a real existence separate from the individuals which fall under them
See also universal (sense 11b), Compare Platonism, nominalism, conceptualism, naive realism
6. philosophy
the theory that physical objects continue to exist whether they are perceived or not
Compare idealism, phenomenalism
7. logic, philosophy
the theory that the sense of a statement is given by a specification of its truth conditions, or that there is a reality independent of the speaker's conception of it that determines the truth or falsehood of every statement
realism in American English
(ˈriəˌlɪzəm)
noun
1.
a tendency to face facts and be practical rather than imaginative or visionary
2.
the picturing in art and literature of people and things as they really appear to be, without idealizing
see also naturalism
3. Philosophy
a.
the doctrine that universal or abstract terms are objectively actual
see also nominalism
b.
the doctrine that material objects exist in themselves, apart from the mind's consciousness of them
see also idealism
Word origin
< Ger realismus < ModL < ML realis, real1 + -ismus, -ism
Examples of 'realism' in a sentence
realism
This sense of realism seems to be lacking now.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We tread a fine line between gritty realism and poetic touches.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This report shows more realism coming in.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This realism makes family life run more smoothly.
The Sun (2010)
We need realism here and practical help.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You have to keep a sense of realism.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Their gritty realism took all before it for ten years or so until gradually overtaken.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has always preached realism rather than blind patriotism for the sheer hell of it.
The Sun (2010)
The film was praised for the documentary realism of life in a prison camp.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Yet the action is tempered by a sense of realism.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Such is the power of gritty realism done well.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We could do with some common sense and realism about this.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is full of gritty realism and believable characters trying not to become the monsters they pursue.
The Sun (2015)
It captured the time and the character of Hunt and added to the realism of the show.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He notes a similarity in both men's practical application of realism.
Christianity Today (2000)
Also new is the driving wheel, which works well and lends added realism to the steering.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Add realism by putting a fan on, blowing full in your face.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Their fear is credible, and with this realism the film rises above its gauche moments and becomes beguiling.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Be it day or night, lighting seems to be what adds the most realism to the feeling of a bustling city.
The Sun (2014)
But if we show the same realism as them I will take that.
The Sun (2015)
My reservation lies in his'new realism' style of reporting.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But it lacks that film's urban grit, realism and style.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The film 's realism gives it authenticity, but it undermines the making of great movie movements.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Her star quality might lessen the film 's realism, but it also makes this failing easy to overlook.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
realism
Art styles and movements, Philosophical schools and doctrines
In other languages
realism
British English: realism NOUN
When people show realism in their behaviour, they recognize and accept the true nature of a situation and try to deal with it in a practical way.
It was time now to show more political realism.
American English: realism
Brazilian Portuguese: realismo
Chinese: 务实精神
European Spanish: realismo
French: réalisme
German: Realismus
Italian: realismo
Japanese: 現実主義
Korean: 현실주의
European Portuguese: realismo
Latin American Spanish: realismo
All related terms of 'realism'
dirty realism
a style of writing, originating in the US in the 1980s, which depicts in great detail the seamier or more mundane aspects of ordinary life
magic realism
Magic realism is a style of writing or painting which sometimes describes dreams as though they were real , and real events as though they were dreams.
naive realism
the doctrine that in perception of physical objects what is before the mind is the object itself and not a representation of it
social realism
the use of realist art, literature , etc as a medium for social or political comment
socialist realism
(in Communist countries, esp formerly) the doctrine that art, literature , etc should present an idealized portrayal of reality , which glorifies the achievements of the Communist Party
photorealism
a style of painting and sculpture that depicts esp commonplace urban images with meticulously accurate detail
1 (noun)
Definition
awareness or acceptance of things as they are, as opposed to the abstract or ideal
It was the time now to show political realism.
Synonyms
pragmatism
common sense
Her mother acted with remarkable common sense.
practicality
Mr Calder showed commendable practicality in his attitude.
level-headedness
clear-sightedness
2 (noun)
Definition
a style in art or literature that attempts to show the world as it really is
Sincere performances and gritty Boston settings add to the film's realism.
Synonyms
authenticity
The film's authenticity of detail has impressed critics.
naturalism
the closely observed naturalism of this superbly understated tale
verisimilitude
Computer animation is costly at this level of visual verisimilitude.
fidelity
the fidelity of these early documents
faithfulness
We value faithfulness as the cornerstone of our relationship.
truthfulness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of common sense
Definition
good practical understanding
Her mother acted with remarkable common sense.
Synonyms
good sense,
sound judgment,
level-headedness,
practicality,
prudence,
nous (British, slang),
soundness,
reasonableness,
gumption (British, informal),
horse sense,
native intelligence,
mother wit,
smarts (slang, US),
wit
in the sense of faithfulness
We value faithfulness as the cornerstone of our relationship.
Synonyms
loyalty,
devotion,
fidelity,
constancy,
dependability,
trustworthiness,
fealty,
adherence
in the sense of fidelity
Definition
accuracy in reporting detail
the fidelity of these early documents
Synonyms
accuracy,
precision,
correspondence,
closeness,
adherence,
faithfulness,
exactitude,
exactness,
scrupulousness,
preciseness
Synonyms of 'realism'
realism
Explore 'realism' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of naturalism
Definition
a movement in art and literature advocating detailed realism
the closely observed naturalism of this superbly understated tale
Synonyms
realism,
authenticity,
plausibility,
verisimilitude,
factualism
in the sense of practicality
Mr Calder showed commendable practicality in his attitude.
Synonyms
common sense,
sense,
realism,
pragmatism,
matter-of-factness
in the sense of verisimilitude
Definition
the appearance of truth or reality
Computer animation is costly at this level of visual verisimilitude.