true

¹true

adjective \ˈtrü\

tru·ertru·est

Definition of TRUE

1

a : steadfast, loyal

b : honest, just

c archaic : truthful

2

a (1) : being in accordance with the actual state of affairs <true description> (2) : conformable to an essential reality (3) : fully realized or fulfilled <dreams come true>

b : ideal, essential

c : being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed <the true dimension of the problem>

d : consistent <true to character>

3

a : properly so called <true love> <the true faith> <the true stomach of ruminant mammals>

b (1) : possessing the basic characters of and belonging to the same natural group as <a whale is a true but not a typical mammal> (2) : typical <the true cats>

4

: legitimate, rightful <our true and lawful king>

5

a : that is fitted or formed or that functions accurately

b : conformable to a standard or pattern : accurate

6

: determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles <true north>

7

: logically necessary

8

: narrow, strict <in the truest sense>

9

: corrected for error

— true·ness noun

Examples of TRUE

1. Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false.
2. If their predictions are true, we'll be in for a long winter.
3. Is it true that you were planning to go without me?
4. Jobs are scarce, and that is especially true for managers.
5. The true cost proved to be much higher than they said it would be.
6. His true character was revealed.
7. the true meaning of the term

Origin of TRUE

Middle English trewe, from Old English trēowe faithful; akin to Old High German gitriuwi faithful, Old Irish derb sure, and probably to Sanskrit dāruṇa hard, dāru wood — more at tree

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to TRUE

Synonyms

bona fide, certifiable, certified, dinkum [Australian & New Zealand], echt, genuine, honest, pukka (also pucka), real, right, sure-enough, authentic

Antonyms

bogus, counterfeit, fake, false, mock, phony (also phoney), pseudo, sham, spurious, suppositious, supposititious, unauthentic, unreal

Related Words

actual, historical, original; lawful, legal, legitimate; identifiable, recognizable, verifiable; proven, substantiated, validated, verified; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefutable, undeniable, undoubted, unmistakable, unquestionable; veritable, very; accurate, correct, proper; pure, unadulterated, unalloyed

Near Antonyms

artificial, factitious, imitation, man-made, simulated, synthetic, unnatural; concocted, fabricated, manufactured; deceptive, delusive, delusory, misleading

Rhymes with TRUE

blue, boo, brew, chew, clew, clue, coo, coup, crew, cue, dew, do, doux, due, ewe, few, flu, flue, fou, glue, gnu, goo, hew, hue, Jew, Koo, lieu, loo, mew, moo, moue, mu, new, nu, ooh, pew, phew, pooh, q, queue, roux, rue, screw, shoe, shoo, shrew, Sioux, skew, slew, slough, slue, smew, sou, sous, spew, sprue, stew, strew, sue, Sue, thew, through, to, too, two, u, view, whew, who, woo, xu, yew, you, zoo

²true

adverb

Definition of TRUE

1

: in accordance with fact or reality

2

a : without deviation <the bullet flew straight and true>

b : without variation from type <breed true>

Examples of TRUE

1. The bullet traveled straight and true.

First Known Use of TRUE

14th century

³true

noun

Definition of TRUE

1

: truth, reality —usually used with the

2

: the quality or state of being accurate (as in alignment or adjustment) —used in the phrases in true and out of true

First Known Use of TRUE

circa 1536

⁴true

transitive verb

truedtrue·ing also tru·ing

Definition of TRUE

: to make level, square, balanced, or concentric : bring or restore to a desired mechanical accuracy or form <true up a board> <true up an engine cylinder>

First Known Use of TRUE

1841