really

adverb

re·​al·​ly ˈrē-(ə-)lē 

1

a

: 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 intensifier

a really beautiful day

c

: very sense 1

look really close

he runs really fast

2

—used to emphasize an assertion

you really should read Yeats

really, you're being ridiculous

Synonyms

• very
• actually
• truly

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

The legacy of slavery was an undertone — overtone, really — to Our Native Daughters’ lone album, so this first set naturally contained an unfair share of the most emotionally rife numbers of the night. —Chris Willman, Variety, 21 June 2025

So Far The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time In retrospect, Soda never really sounded like Soda, as the trio’s restless identity kept morphing from album to album since the release of its new wave inflected 1984 debut. —Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025

There really is no better way to add a vibrant, healthy glow. —María Quiles, Vogue, 21 June 2025

Jaws is really about just you and that Fear That Eats You. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 21 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing really

• not really

Rhymes for really

• bacilli
• tranquilly
• billie
• billy
• chilli
• chilly
• dilly
• filly
• frilly
• gillie
• gilly
• hilly

Kids Definition

really

adverb

re·​al·​ly ˈrē-(ə-)lē 

ˈri(-ə)l-ē

1

: in actual fact : actually

didn't really mean it

2

: without question : truly

a really beautiful day

3

: very entry 2 sense 2

look really close

he runs really fast

4

: to be honest : frankly