reality check

noun

: something that clarifies or serves as a reminder of reality often by correcting a misconception

Examples of reality check in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is where the excitement around grooming for dogs needs a reality check. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Kentucky rolled in its opener (45-13 over Youngstown State), but was outscored by 32 points in the second half of a 45-17 home loss to Alabama on Saturday, which served as a reality check for the road ahead. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Saturday was a reality check delivered straight to the jaw by another team with a first-time head coach and a roster full of recent enrollees. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2026

Collecting Accurate, Effective Workflow Records Turning a simple workflow capture into a gold-standard SOP requires a few steps, of course, including a reality check. — K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reality check

• aztec
• breakneck
• codec
• exec
• mixtec
• paycheck
• pinchbeck
• recheck
• redneck
• toltec
• beck
• breck