(~r, ~st)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If something is ~, it is based on facts rather than being invented or imagined, and is accurate and reliable.
Everything I had heard about him was ~...
The film tells the ~ story of a group who survived in the Andes in sub-zero temperatures.
ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ that
2.
You use ~ to emphasize that a person or thing is sincere or genuine, often in contrast to something that is pretended or hidden.
I allowed myself to acknowledge my ~ feelings...
The ~ cost often differs from that which had first been projected...
= real
ADJ: ADJ n emphasis
3.
If you use ~ to describe something or someone, you approve of them because they have all the characteristics or qualities that such a person or thing typically has.
Maybe one day you’ll find ~ love...
The ability to work collaboratively is a ~ test of leadership...
I think he’s a ~ genius.
= real
ADJ: ADJ n approval
4.
If you say that a fact is ~ of a particular person or situation, you mean that it is valid or relevant for them.
I accept that the romance may have gone out of the marriage, but surely this is ~ of many couples...
Expenditure on health in most of these countries has gone down, and the same is ~ for education.
ADJ: v-link ADJ of/for n
5.
If you are ~ to someone, you remain committed and loyal to them. If you are ~ to an idea or promise, you remain committed to it and continue to act according to it.
David was ~ to his wife...
India has remained ~ to democracy...
She’s been ~ to her word from day one.
= faithful
ADJ: v-link ADJ to n
6.
If a dream, wish, or prediction comes ~, it actually happens.
Owning a place of their own is a dream come ~ for the couple.
PHRASE: V inflects
7.
If a general statement holds ~ in particular circumstances, or if your previous statement holds ~ in different circumstances, it is ~ or valid in those circumstances. (FORMAL)
This law is known to hold ~ for galaxies at a distance of at least several billion light years.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n
8.
If you say that something seems too good to be ~, you are suspicious of it because it seems better than you had expected, and you think there may something wrong with it that you have not noticed.
On the whole the celebrations were remarkably good-humoured and peaceful. Indeed, it seemed almost too good to be ~.
PHRASE: v-link PHR
9.
If you say that something such as a story or a film is ~ to life, you approve of it because it seems real.
The opening scenes of this movie are just not ~ to life.
PHRASE: v-link PHR approval
10.
~ colours: see colour
~ to form: see form
to ring ~: see ring
tried and ~: see tried