If you are realistic about a situation, you recognize and accept its true nature and try to deal with it in a practical way.
Police have to be realistic about violent crime. [+ about]
It's only realistic to acknowledge that something, some time, will go wrong.
...a realistic view of what we can afford.
Synonyms: practical, real, sensible, rational More Synonyms of realistic
realisticallyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
As an adult, you can assess the situation realistically.
Synonyms: really, basically, in truth, if you are honest More Synonyms of realistic
2. adjective
Something such as a goal or target that is realistic is one which you can sensibly expect to achieve.
Elections are scheduled for next year but many doubt this is a realistic goal.
A more realistic figure is eleven million.
Establish deadlines that are more realistic.
Synonyms: attainable, reasonable, sensible, feasible More Synonyms of realistic
3. adjective
You say that a painting, story, or film is realistic when the people and things in it are like people and things in real life.
...extraordinarily realistic paintings of Indians.
The language is foul and the violence horribly realistic.
Synonyms: lifelike, true to life, authentic, naturalistic More Synonyms of realistic
realisticallyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
The film starts off realistically and then develops into a ridiculous fantasy.
Synonyms: really, basically, in truth, if you are honest More Synonyms of realistic
realistic in British English
(ˌrɪəˈlɪstɪk)
adjective
1.
showing awareness and acceptance of reality
2.
practical or pragmatic rather than ideal or moral
3.
(of a book, film, etc) depicting or emphasizing what is real and actual rather than abstract or ideal
4.
of or relating to philosophical realism
Derived forms
realistically (ˌrealˈistically)
adverb
realistic in American English
(ˌriəˈlɪstɪk)
adjective
1.
of, having to do with, or in the style of, realism or realists
2.
tending to face facts; practical rather than visionary
Derived forms
realistically (ˌrealˈistically)
adverb
Examples of 'realistic' in a sentence
realistic
They set tough but realistic goals and standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Guidance helped me set realistic career goals to work towards.
The Sun (2016)
Be a savvy saver Check that your savings goals are realistic.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And what’s more, the groups are being realistic with their goals.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
You can make progress with fitness plans now you set realistic targets.
The Sun (2010)
You have a realistic view of people at work and this keeps you an important step ahead.
The Sun (2009)
It is probably far more realistic to accept that you are not going to get a reply.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The realistic chances of an actual conviction were hovering somewhere around zero.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You see people in a realistic light and expecting less of them will help relationships.
The Sun (2009)
Most years their only realistic ambition is to avoid relegation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You mentioned earlier setting realistic goals for growth.
Christianity Today (2000)
What is the best way of putting into place realistic and achievable targets?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You do have to tell people to be realistic.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Clients also need to accept realistic deadlines.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is our last realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Was it realistic to expect this new government to do any better?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You can set realistic goals to work with fitness plans.
The Sun (2008)
They set tough but realistic targets and keep management focused on them.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What is the point of making it so realistic that people give up watching?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Being realistic and accepting each other has really helped us.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is all well and good being realistic about our chances.
The Sun (2014)
It is not always realistic to expect friends to stay in step with your lifestyle.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The talk turns to coping with pressure and being realistic about goals.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The budgets prepared should be based on company objectives and set realistic targets.
Harrison, John Finance for the Non-Financial Manager (1989)
Wonderful acting in this raw, realistic film.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Maybe 100 years is a realistic timeframe.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We were making less of a realistic film, more of a fairytale.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And is ten years a realistic time frame, or should she delay retirement a while longer?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
THERE was a dearth of realistic films set around the conflict in Iraq - until this.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
realistic
British English: realistic /ˌrɪəˈlɪstɪk/ ADJECTIVE
If you are realistic about a situation, you recognize and accept its true nature and try to deal with it.
It's realistic to expect things to go wrong sometimes.
American English: realistic
Arabic: وَاقِعِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: realístico
Chinese: 现实的
Croatian: realističan
Czech: realistický
Danish: realistisk
Dutch: realistisch
European Spanish: realista
Finnish: realistinen
French: réaliste
German: realistisch
Greek: ρεαλιστικός
Italian: realistico
Japanese: 現実的な
Korean: 현실적인
Norwegian: realistisk
Polish: realistyczny
European Portuguese: realístico
Romanian: realist
Russian: реалистичный
Latin American Spanish: realista
Swedish: realistisk
Thai: เป็นจริง
Turkish: gerçekçi
Ukrainian: реалістичний
Vietnamese: có óc thực tế
All related terms of 'realistic'
realistic ambition
If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
realistic budget
Your budget is the amount of money that you have available to spend . The budget for something is the amount of money that a person, organization, or country has available to spend on it.
realistic deadline
A deadline is a time or date before which a particular task must be finished or a particular thing must be done.
realistic target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
realistic assessment
An assessment is a consideration of someone or something and a judgment about them.
realistic expectations
Your expectations are your strong hopes or beliefs that something will happen or that you will get something that you want .
realistic possibility
If you say there is a possibility that something is the case or that something will happen , you mean that it might be the case or it might happen.