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 of really

• 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

Neither more nor less, really, at this stage. —Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026

The confection went viral and really took off when lip-smacking TikTok influencers like Maria Vehera recorded themselves eating the sweet, gooey bars. —Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026

In our day and age, the question of power is really one of who gets to define the truth. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026

Agents and buyers were texting me trying to get in to the party, which had a really good energy to it. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026

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