reallyadverb
uk/ˈrɪə.li/us/ˈriː.ə.li/really adverb (NOT IMAGINARY)
B1 in fact:
He isn't really angry - he's just pretending.
You don't really expect them to refuse, do you?
A2 used to say that something is certain:
Thank you, but I really couldn't eat another thing.
He's really going to do it this time.
More examples
- The constraints of politeness wouldn't allow her to say what she really thought about his cooking.
- I don't really know how she got the job, but I suspect her mother's got contacts.
- He doesn't really mean it - he's just being contrary.
- A joke can be very revealing about what someone's really thinking.
- She's not really angry - it's just a put-on.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
True, real, false, and unreal
- actual
- actuality
- actually
- all that glitters is not gold idiom
- apocryphal
- fairy tale
- faithful
- false
- falsely
- fictional
- gritty
- nominal
- practically
- pretend
- proper
- properly
- properly speaking idiom
- pukka
- verily
- well founded
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Certainty
really adverb (VERY)
A1 very or very much:
She's really nice.
This room is really hot.
That's really interesting.
It's a really difficult decision.
"Did you like it? Not really (= no)."
More examples
- Security checks have become really strict at the airport.
- I had to fill in this really complicated form.
- We had a really rough crossing - I was sick three times.
- Why do you have a down on him? I think he seems really nice.
- My dad was always really good at making up stories.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: very & extreme
- abject
- awful
- badly
- beyond
- classic
- classical
- devastating
- drop dead! idiom
- eminently
- esp
- especially
- heartily
- impossibly
- rather
- sheer
- specially
- supremely
- thoroughly
- whole
- wide
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reallyexclamation
uk/ˈrɪə.li/us/ˈriː.ə.li/A2 used to express interest, surprise, or anger:
"I'm getting married to Fred." "Really? When?"
"She's promised to shave her head for charity." "Really? Do you think she'll do it?"
"He hasn't brought the book back." "Oh, really! That's the second time I've asked him!"
More examples
- "She's leaving." "Really?"
- "I find him very attractive." "Really?"
- "I thought it was the best film I'd ever seen." "Really?"
- "I think they've just sold their house." "Really?"
- "I saw him in town yesterday." "Really?"
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: interjections
- (well) what do you know! idiom
- aiyo
- alas
- aw shucks
- awesomesauce
- bam
- bless
- boo
- charming
- good show idiom
- goodness
- heck
- hot dog! idiom
- talk
- use your loaf idiom
- voilà
- wake up! idiom
- watch out
- what an idea! idiom
- yes
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