I. real 1 S1 W1 /rɪəl/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ realism , ↑ realist , ↑ reality , ↑ unreality , ↑ realization ; adverb : ↑ real , ↑ really , ↑ realistically ≠ ↑ unrealistically ; adjective : ↑ real , ↑ unreal , ↑ realistic ≠ ↑ unrealistic ; verb : ↑ realize ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Medieval Latin realis 'of things (in law)' , from Latin res 'thing' ]
1 . IMPORTANT something that is real exists and is important:
There is a real danger that the disease might spread.
We need to tackle the real problems of unemployment and poverty.
There is no real reason to worry.
2 . NOT ARTIFICIAL something that is real is actually what it seems to be and not false or artificial OPP fake :
a coat made of real fur
She had never seen a real live elephant before.
Artificial flowers can sometimes look better than the real thing.
3 . NOT IMAGINARY something that is real actually exists and is not just imagined:
The children know that Santa Claus isn’t a real person.
Dreams can sometimes seem very real.
Things don’t happen quite that easily in real life.
4 . the real world used to talk about the difficult experience of living and working with other people, rather than being protected at home, at school, or at college:
the shock of leaving university and going out into the real world
5 . TRUE [only before noun] actual and true, not invented:
That’s not her real name.
What was the real reason you quit your job?
6 . FEELINGS a real feeling or emotion is one that you actually experience and is strong SYN genuine :
There was a look of real hatred in her eyes.
I got a real sense of achievement when my work was first published.
7 . RIGHT QUALITIES [only before noun] a real thing has all the qualities you expect something of that type to have:
I remember my first real job.
Simon was her first real boyfriend.
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SPOKEN PHRASES
8 . FOR EMPHASIS [only before noun] used to emphasize how stupid, beautiful, terrible etc someone or something is:
Thanks – you’ve been a real help.
The house was a real mess.
9 . for real seriously, not just pretending:
After two trial runs we did it for real.
10 . are you for real? American English used when you are very surprised or shocked by what someone has done or said
11 . get real! used to tell someone that they are being very silly or unreasonable
12 . keep it real to behave in an honest way and not pretend to be different from how you really are
13 . MONEY [only before noun] a real increase or decrease in an amount of money is one you calculate by including the general decrease in the value of money over a period of time:
a real increase of 6% in average wages
The average value of salaries has fallen in real terms (=calculated in this way) .
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THESAURUS
▪ genuine used about a feeling, thing, or person that really is what they seem to be:
genuine concern
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Experts believe that the painting is genuine.
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genuine refugees
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a genuine reason for taking time off work
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If a student has genuine religious objections to a school activity, they do not have to participate.
▪ real not false or artificial:
real wood
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His real name is Reginald.
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It looks just like the real thing.
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Are those flowers real or artificial?
▪ authentic authentic food, music, clothes etc are correct for the place or the period in history that they are supposed to be from:
It’s a friendly restaurant offering authentic Greek food.
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authentic medieval instruments
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The dancers wore authentic Native American designs.
▪ true [only before noun] having all the qualities you would expect a particular type of person or thing to have:
a true friend
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She is a true professional.
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Being a true Red Sox fan, he never missed a game.
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True Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
▪ bona fide /ˌbəʊnə ˈfaɪdi $ ˈbəʊnə faɪd/ [usually before noun] bona fide people or things are really what they say they are, especially when this can be checked by looking at official documents:
a bona fide medical qualification
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a bona fide company
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This club is only open to bona fide members.
▪ hard evidence/facts evidence or facts that are genuine and can be proved:
There was no hard evidence to support the theory.
II. real 2 BrE AmE adverb American English spoken
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ realism , ↑ realist , ↑ reality , ↑ unreality , ↑ realization ; adverb : ↑ real , ↑ really , ↑ realistically ≠ ↑ unrealistically ; adjective : ↑ real , ↑ unreal , ↑ realistic ≠ ↑ unrealistic ; verb : ↑ realize ]
very:
He’s real cute.
It was real nice to see you again.