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

Watching those parallels come along, and watching the discourse online unfold around that was really satisfying as a storyteller. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026

As for whether Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy really saw Princess Diana just before Diana’s death? —Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2026

But, really, these are the times when that stuff is most important. —Nick Miller, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026

No one would deny that casting is an important part of a movie, but who really believes that casting directors choose casts independent of directors and executives? —Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 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