INDEX:
not false or artificial
1. not false or artificial
2. having the qualities that make a particular type of person or thing real
3. when someone really feels something
4. when someone thinks or feels something but hides it
not imagined or invented
5. when things or people really exist
6. when information, statements etc are based on real facts
when pictures, films etc seem real/don’t seem real
7. when pictures, films etc make things seem real
8. when pictures, films etc do not make things seem real
RELATED WORDS
not made with natural materials : ↑ ARTIFICIAL
intended to appear real in order to deceive people : ↑ FALSE
see also
↑ PRETEND
↑ HONEST
↑ DISHONEST
↑ IMAGINE
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1. not false or artificial
▷ real /rɪəl/ [adjective]
not false or artificial :
▪ Is that a real diamond?
▪ Are those flowers real or artificial?
▪ People call him Baz, but his real name is Reginald.
▷ genuine /ˈdʒenjuɪn, ˈdʒenjuən/ [adjective]
real, not just seeming to be real or pretending to be real :
▪ For years people thought the picture was a genuine Van Gogh, but in fact it’s a fake.
▪ We need a much faster system for dealing with genuine refugees.
▪ If a student has genuine religious objections to a school activity, they do not have to participate.
▷ authentic /ɔːˈθentɪk/ [adjective]
authentic food, music, clothes etc are correct for the place or the period in history that they are supposed to be from :
▪ a friendly restaurant offering authentic Greek food
▪ They play music on authentic medieval instruments.
▪ The dancers wore authentic Native American designs.
▷ bona fide /ˌbəʊnə ˈfaɪdiǁˈbəʊnə faɪd/ [adjective]
people or things that are bona fide are really what they say they are, especially when this can be checked by looking at official records, personal papers etc :
▪ This club is only open to bona fide members.
▪ We have to check that he holds a bona fide qualification.
▪ The company can only reimburse bona fide business-related expenses.
▷ natural /ˈnætʃərəl/ [adjective]
not artificial and no made by people :
▪ I prefer natural fibres such as wool and cotton.
▪ His natural hair color is brown.
▪ We only use natural products.
▷ the real thing /ðə ˌrɪəl ˈθɪŋ/ [noun phrase]
something that is the thing it is meant to be, and not a cheaper or lower quality thing :
▪ Recorded music will never be as good as listening to the real thing.
▪ I’d seen pictures of the painting, but it was very different seeing the real thing.
▷ the genuine article /ðə ˌdʒenjuə̇n ˈɑːʳtɪk ə l/ [noun phrase]
something such as a car, painting, or piece of furniture or clothing, that really is made, produced, or designed by a famous and admired person or company :
▪ He owns a 1947 Ferrari -- the genuine article.
▪ With paintings it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the genuine article from a good reproduction.
▷ the real McCoy /ðə ˌrɪəl məˈkɔɪ/ [noun phrase] informal
something that is real, and not a cheaper, lower quality product :
▪ The moment I smelled the cigar, I knew it was the real McCoy.
▪ The dress had a designer label, but I couldn’t tell if it was the real McCoy or a cheap imitation.
2. having the qualities that make a particular type of person or thing real
▷ real /rɪəl/ [adjective only before noun]
use this to emphasize that someone or something has the qualities that a particular kind of person or thing should have :
▪ Jane’s been a real friend to me over the years.
▪ She’s a real tomboy!
▪ What the country needs now is a real leader.
▷ true /truː/ [adjective only before noun]
someone who is a true friend, believer etc is not just pretending to be one and has all of the qualities that a friend, believer etc is supposed to have :
▪ He was a good partner and a true friend to me.
▪ Being a true Red Sox fan, he never missed a game.
▪ She makes the dance look easy - the mark of a true professional.
▪ True Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
▷ proper /ˈprɒpəʳǁˈprɑː-/ [adjective only before noun] British
real and not something similar which is not as good :
▪ When are you going to get a proper job?
▪ We don’t have a proper guest room, but you can have the sofa in the study.
3. when someone really feels something
▷ really /ˈrɪəli/ [adverb]
when you really feel something, really want something etc, and you are not just pretending to feel it :
▪ Do you think she’s really sorry?
▪ Do you really want to come with us? It’ll be very boring for you.
▪ I don’t think she really believes she can win.
▷ real /rɪəl/ [adjective]
use this to describe feelings, attitudes and beliefs that someone really feels and is not just pretending to feel :
▪ She was clearly in real pain.
▪ He didn’t show any real regret for the suffering he had caused.
▪ Real commitment is needed from everyone on the team if we’re going to make this project work.
▷ sincere /sɪnˈsɪəʳ/ [adjective]
if you are sincere, or have sincere feelings, you really feel or believe something and are not just pretending :
▪ It is my sincere belief that if we work together we can achieve peace in this country.
sincere in
▪ They seemed to be sincere in their concern for the children’s welfare.
sincere thanks/apologies
formal
▪ I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who helped us.
sincerely [adverb]
▪ I believe they sincerely want to find a peaceful solution to the dispute.
▷ genuine /ˈdʒenjuɪn, ˈdʒenjuən/ [adjective]
genuine feelings are real and not pretended - use this especially when you are surprised that someone has these feelings :
▪ I’m not sure if her sympathy was really genuine.
▪ For the first time on the trip, I saw genuine fear in his eyes.
▪ This is the first genuine attempt to reach a peaceful settlement to the dispute.
genuinely [adverb]
▪ Fred seemed genuinely interested in our work.
▷ heartfelt /ˈhɑːʳtfelt/ [adjective usually before noun]
very real and strongly felt :
▪ Christine breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief.
▪ She expressed her heartfelt thanks to all those who had helped and supported her.
▪ Please accept our heartfelt sympathy on your sad loss.
▪ The family made a heartfelt plea to the kidnappers to release their son.
▷ from the heart /frəm ðə ˈhɑːʳt/ [adverb]
if you say or mean something from the heart, you really mean it and feel it very strongly :
▪ He stood up and spoke simply but from the heart.
from the bottom of somebody’s heart
▪ I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
straight from the heart
▪ I’m speaking straight from the heart when I say that I believe Marguerite deserves to be chairman.
▷ truly /ˈtruːli/ [adverb]
if you truly believe, want, or feel something, you believe, want, or feel it very strongly and are not just pretending :
▪ I truly believe he is innocent.
▪ She seems truly sorry for what she did.
▪ I truly am impressed with your work.
▷ true /truː/ [adjective usually before noun]
a feeling that is true is real and strongly felt, not just pretended :
▪ At last he had found true happiness.
▪ As far as Gabby was concerned this was true love.
4. when someone thinks or feels something but hides it
▷ really /ˈrɪəli/ [adverb]
used to say what someone’s real thoughts and feelings are when they are pretending to think or feel something else :
▪ Neither of us really wanted to stay in Texas, but we couldn’t leave his family at that time.
▪ She didn’t complain, but I knew that really she was quite fed up with us all.
▪ Don’t trust James -- all he’s really interested in is your money.
▷ deep down /ˌdiːp ˈdaʊn/ [adverb]
if you think or feel something deep down, that is what you really think or feel even though you may not say or show it :
▪ He pretends he doesn’t care, but deep down I know he’s very upset.
▪ I kept pushing the team, but deep down I think I knew we wouldn’t win.
▷ underneath it all /ʌndəʳˈniːθ ɪt ˌɔːl/ [adverb]
if someone is a particular kind of person underneath it all, this is what they are really like :
▪ He likes to show people his tough side, but underneath it all, he’s a decent person.
▷ inside /ɪnˈsaɪd/ [adverb]
if you feel something inside, that is the way you really feel, even though you do not show it :
▪ I wish I knew what he was feeling inside.
▪ These kids seem so aggressive, but inside they’re terrified.
5. when things or people really exist
▷ real /rɪəl/ [adjective]
used to describe people or things that really exist and have not been imagined :
▪ You can dress up either as a fictional character or a real person.
very real
▪ His problems are very real. I don’t think you should laugh at him.
▪ There was a very real danger of being robbed during the night.
reality /riˈælɪti, riˈæləti/ [uncountable noun]
▪ A lot of people use computer games as an escape from reality.
▷ actual /ˈæktʃuəl/ [adjective only before noun]
real, especially as compared with what is intended, believed, or what is usually expected :
▪ How does the actual cost compare with the budget?
▪ Although buses are supposed to run every fifteen minutes, the actual waiting time can be up to an hour.
▪ The actual amount of water needed by the crop depends on the weather conditions.
▷ true /truː/ [adjective only before noun]
the true value, nature, importance etc of something is its real value etc rather than what seems at first to be correct :
▪ It is difficult to measure the true value of these amenities to the local community.
▪ The true significance of the General’s offer has yet to be established.
▷ real live /ˈrɪəl laɪv/ [adjective phrase only before noun] informal
a real live person or animal is one that is actually alive and real :
▪ Seeing real live animals in a zoo is much more exciting that just watching them on television.
▪ I’ve never met a real live movie star before!
6. when information, statements etc are based on real facts
▷ true /truː/ [adjective]
based on facts and not imagined :
▪ No, honestly, It’s a true story.
▪ She says her parents arrived here as refugees, but I know that’s not true.
▷ solid/concrete /ˈsɒlɪd, ˈsɒlədǁˈsɑː-, ˈkɒŋkriːtǁkɑːŋˈkriːt/ [adjective only before noun]
based on things that can be proved to be true or real :
▪ The police cannot arrest him until they have some solid evidence.
▪ We had our suspicions, but no solid facts.
▪ No one seems to have any concrete information about her.
▷ tangible /ˈtændʒɪb ə l, ˈtændʒəb ə l/ [adjective]
firmly based on facts, able to be proved by being seen or experienced :
tangible evidence/proof/results etc
▪ The discussions produced no tangible results.
▪ There is no tangible evidence of dishonesty among the company’s directors.
7. when pictures, films etc make things seem real
▷ realistic /rɪəˈlɪstɪk/ [adjective]
use this about books, pictures, and films that show or describe things as they really are :
▪ The book includes some very realistic descriptions of life during the war.
▪ A lot of people like paintings to look realistic.
▪ Planning your dream home? You can build a more realistic model with our new 3-D kit.
▷ lifelike /ˈlaɪflaɪk/ [adjective]
use this about pictures and models that look very like the real person or thing :
▪ Outside the museum is a huge, lifelike model of a dinosaur.
▪ The directors wanted the computer-generated images to look as lifelike as possible.
▷ realism /ˈrɪəlɪz ə m/ [uncountable noun]
the quality in a painting, film, story etc that makes it seem real and believable :
▪ The battle scenes are described with extraordinary realism.
▪ His style combines plain language and gritty realism.
▷ true to life /ˌtruː tə ˈlaɪf◂/ [adjective phrase]
a film, play, story etc that is true to life, shows or describes things as they really are :
▪ It’s a great story, but not always true to life.
▪ The film gives us a true to life picture of 1920s Chicago.
▷ vivid /ˈvɪvɪd, ˈvɪvəd/ [adjective]
vivid descriptions, memories, dreams etc are so clear that they seem real :
▪ The book gives a vivid account of the author’s journey through northern Africa.
▪ I loved listening to his vivid descriptions of life in Italy.
▪ One of my most vivid memories is of my first day at school.
▪ The drug can make people suffer hallucinations and vivid nightmares.
8. when pictures, films etc do not make things seem real
▷ abstract /ˈæbstrækt/ [adjective]
abstract paintings, pictures, designs etc contain shapes and images that represent real things and people but do not look like them :
▪ a new exhibition of abstract paintings
▪ A lot of people don’t like abstract art.
▪ It’s an abstract design that’s supposed to represent freedom and strength.
▷ unrealistic /ˌʌnrɪəˈlɪstɪk/ [adjective]
something that is unrealistic shows or describes things in a way that does not seem real, and is therefore not very good or cannot be believed :
▪ I found the play boring and the characters unrealistic.
▪ The film is ruined by all the unrealistic plot twists.
▷ contrived /kənˈtraɪvd/ [adjective]
a story, situation etc that is contrived has been written or arranged in a way that seems false and not natural :
▪ There’s something very contrived about the whole story.
▪ One critic described the movie as ‘a stale and hopelessly contrived comedy’.