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
The president is not really a notice-and-comment kind of guy.
—
Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
While stressing that Globo shows are very well liked around the world, Medeiros pointed out that the group is not really in the same game.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Many Americans came to depend on the subsidies, which were simply patches over the gaps in a health care system that may feel duct-taped together, and not really working for patients, providers or insurers.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
But honestly, the translation is not really the issue in director Gabrielle Randle-Bent’s production.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for not really
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Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
While stressing that Globo shows are very well liked around the world, Medeiros pointed out that the group is not really in the same game.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Many Americans came to depend on the subsidies, which were simply patches over the gaps in a health care system that may feel duct-taped together, and not really working for patients, providers or insurers.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
But honestly, the translation is not really the issue in director Gabrielle Randle-Bent’s production.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 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 23 Feb. 2026.
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