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

With good cause, too, as the Kassam really does encapsulate so much of what English football lost amid the rush for new-builds that followed the Taylor Report into the 1989 disaster at Hillsborough, which claimed 97 lives. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

While his spot in the playoffs was never really in question, his lack of top-10 finishes this season has been a concern. — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

In hearing their stories, Knopf came to realize that none had ever really learned how to teach children to read. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

This is the laziest kind of provocation, and The Shards can’t even manage to really go there. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 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