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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Nighthawks’ loss to Vista Murrieta is a concern … or maybe a needed reality check. Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025 Jeenah Moon | Reuters Global markets may be due for a reality check after this year’s relentless rally, as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on Tuesday cautioned investors to brace for a drawdown over the next two years. Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025 The optimism about Frank’s project is quickly draining away, perhaps slightly unfairly, but this was a shocking performance and a brutal reality check. Jay Harris, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025 In the first two episodes of Dispatch, AdHoc Studio’s new playable TV show, the protagonist Robert Robertson (Aaron Paul) gets a similar reality check. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reality check

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reality check was in 1960

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Cite this Entry

“Reality check.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reality%20check. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

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