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

Insider tip Since the pool is really the highlight of the space, the property felt like the perfect summer getaway to me. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026

At UConn, in the Werth basketball facility, Dan Hurley (and Geno Auriemma) really mean it. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

What businesses are really building is a platform coordinating models, agents, data, accelerators, memory, policy and human accountability in real time. — Anshu Bansal, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

The studio whirred to what has been described as Aison’s fresh and distinct take on the police helicopter angle, which really hasn’t been explored since 1983’s thriller Blue Thunder. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing really

• not really

Rhymes for really

• billie
• billy
• chilli
• chilly
• dilly
• filly
• frilly
• gillie
• gilly
• hilly
• lily
• philly

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