rea ‧ lis ‧ tic S3 /rɪəˈlɪstɪk/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ realism , ↑ realist , ↑ reality , ↑ unreality , ↑ realization ; adverb : ↑ real , ↑ really , ↑ realistically ≠ ↑ unrealistically ; adjective : ↑ real , ↑ unreal , ↑ realistic ≠ ↑ unrealistic ; verb : ↑ realize ]
1 . judging and dealing with situations in a practical way according to what is actually possible rather than what you would like to happen OPP unrealistic
it is not realistic to do something
It’s just not realistic to expect a promotion so soon.
realistic about
You need to be realistic about the amount you can do in a day.
2 . a realistic aim or hope is something that it is possible to achieve OPP unrealistic :
Is this a realistic target?
I don’t think they have a realistic chance of winning.
3 . realistic pictures or stories show things as they are in real life:
a realistic portrayal of life in Victorian Britain
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ nouns
▪ a realistic chance/prospect
We felt we had a realistic chance of beating England.
▪ a realistic option/alternative
We do not believe there is any realistic alternative.
▪ a realistic goal/target
Set realistic goals for yourself.
▪ a realistic expectation
There are no realistic expectations of improvement.
▪ a realistic figure/price
A more realistic figure for energy saving would be 20 percent.
▪ a realistic solution
Compromise is the only realistic solution.
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THESAURUS
▪ possible if something is possible, it can be done or achieved:
I think it’s possible that we could win the race.
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I want to get back by 5 o'clock if possible.
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Please let me know your answer as soon as possible.
▪ feasible if an idea or plan is feasible, it is possible and you can find a practical way of doing it:
We need to find out first if the idea is technically feasible.
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It is not feasible to have security cameras in every part of the building.
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Da Silva considered it feasible that uranium could be produced on an industrial scale.
▪ viable possible and likely to be successful, and therefore worth doing:
Nuclear energy is the only viable alternative to coal or gas.
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The product needs to be commercially viable.
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We have yet to find a viable solution to the problem.
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The company was no longer financially viable (=it could not make enough money to be able to continue) .
▪ workable a workable plan, system, or solution is one that can be done or used:
By early morning, they had arrived at a workable and safe solution.
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The company would have a tough job convincing people that the deal was workable.
▪ doable informal if something is doable, you have enough money, energy, or skill to do it:
This exercise programme is doable for most people.
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Do you think the walk is doable?
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Hosting great parties is fun, easy, and doable on any budget.
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The book is full of interesting and doable recipes.
▪ achievable ( also attainable formal ) able to be achieved:
A 15% cut in carbon emissions is achievable.
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Perfect democracy is not attainable, nor is perfect freedom or perfect justice.
▪ realistic if something is realistic, it seems sensible to think that it can be done or achieved:
a realistic target
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Their expectations didn’t seem very realistic.
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It is important to set yourself realistic goals.