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really

adverb
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re·​al·​ly | \ ˈrē-(ə-)lē How to pronounce really (audio) \

Definition of really

1a : in reality : actually things as they really are there was nothing peculiar about her doing this, really— Peter Taylor
b : truly, unquestionably —used as an intensifiera really beautiful day
c : very sense 1 look really close he runs really fast
2 —used to emphasize an assertionyou really should read Yeatsreally, you're being ridiculous
Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about really

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Examples of really in a Sentence

The dog runs really fast. The water is really hot. She's a really nice person. I had a really good time at the party.
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Recent Examples on the Web But the question that hounds Tether—and is the subject of an investigation by the New York attorney general’s office—is whether its most attractive quality is really just to artificially inflate the value of Bitcoin. — Jacob Silverman, The New Republic, "Is Tether Just a Scam to Enrich Bitcoin Investors?," 13 Jan. 2021 The risk assessment tool was really just a Google spreadsheet. — Gregory Barber, Wired, "How Many Microcovids Would You Spend on a Burrito?," 12 Jan. 2021 So, spreading termites to other oaks with the material is not really a concern. — Dan Gill, NOLA.com, "Wait for spring to move crotons; azalea leaf drop is normal; and more garden advice from Dan Gill," 12 Jan. 2021 Some scientists believe black holes aren’t all the same—and that some are really wormholes. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, "Some Black Holes May Actually Be Secret Wormholes," 11 Jan. 2021 If the structure has three sides or more, take a good look at how much ventilation there really is—do those sides have any lattices or doorways cut into them to increase airflow, or is this basically just an indoor space squeezed onto a sidewalk? — Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, "When it comes to COVID-19 risk, what counts as ‘outdoor’ dining?," 11 Jan. 2021 Vinnie, undergoing a personal awakening that is really a joy to watch, says the sermon was sexist. — Jessica Goldstein, Vulture, "Dickinson Recap: Spirits In the Night," 8 Jan. 2021 Consider these fits concrete proof that Uggs really can be stylish. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "Honey, They Shrunk the Ugg Boot," 6 Jan. 2021 The goal is to illustrate that healthy eating really isn’t one size fits all. — Carolyn Kylstra, SELF, "Our Definition of Wellness Is Way Too Narrow. It’s Time to Change That.," 5 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'really.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of really

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Time Traveler for really

Time Traveler

The first known use of really was in the 15th century

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Last Updated

18 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Really.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/really. Accessed 26 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for really

really

adverb
How to pronounce really (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of really

—used to refer to what is true or real
: without question or doubt
: to a great degree

See the full definition for really in the English Language Learners Dictionary

really

adverb
re·​al·​ly | \ ˈrē-ə-lē How to pronounce really (audio) , ˈrē-lē \

Kids Definition of really

1 : in fact She didn't really mean it.
2 : without question It's a really fine day.

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More from Merriam-Webster on really

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for really

Nglish: Translation of really for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of really for Arabic Speakers

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