the real thing
noun
: something that is genuine and not a copy or imitation : something that is truly valuable or important
The diamond turned out to be the real thing.
You've done very well in your training. Let's just hope you're ready for the real thing.
Examples of the real thing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So when the scene arose with Austin on the phone with his mom, Melton thought speaking to the real thing would lend some authenticity.
—
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
That, too, felt like the real thing.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Ah, another Broadway musical that positions Tina Turner as a lethal iceberg, a leading man who quotes 20 year old YouTube memes and a time-traveling Céline Dion whose surreal version of a historical tragedy is so much better than the real thing.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2026
The Best Brown Sugar Substitute The best substitute for brown sugar tends to be less of a substitute but rather a homemade version of the real thing.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the real thing
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Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
That, too, felt like the real thing.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Ah, another Broadway musical that positions Tina Turner as a lethal iceberg, a leading man who quotes 20 year old YouTube memes and a time-traveling Céline Dion whose surreal version of a historical tragedy is so much better than the real thing.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2026
The Best Brown Sugar Substitute The best substitute for brown sugar tends to be less of a substitute but rather a homemade version of the real thing.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the real thing
Cite this Entry
“The real thing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20real%20thing. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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