not really
idiom
—used to say "no" in a way that is not very forceful or definite
"Was the movie good?" "Not really."
"Do you want to go to a movie?" "No, not really."
Examples of not really in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But finding a solution is not really the point here.
—
Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
People who watch a lot of TV were seen as kind of not really up to life in some ways.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
His stars, who are currently in that age range, immersed themselves in the soundtrack, despite not really knowing any of the artists of Tierney’s youth.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
Normally, the Esteworld patient journey does not really resemble a medical evacuation but more sounds like a city break that begins from airport arrival courtesy of a VIP transfer team that meets patients at IST Airport.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
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Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
People who watch a lot of TV were seen as kind of not really up to life in some ways.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
His stars, who are currently in that age range, immersed themselves in the soundtrack, despite not really knowing any of the artists of Tierney’s youth.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
Normally, the Esteworld patient journey does not really resemble a medical evacuation but more sounds like a city break that begins from airport arrival courtesy of a VIP transfer team that meets patients at IST Airport.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for not really
Cite this Entry
“Not really.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20really. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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