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
Take the alcohol away, and what’s left can often feel thin, bitter or overly sweet — a shadow of the real thing.
—
Allison Robicelli, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2026
The ability to provide something that is close to the real thing will be groundbreaking for families touched by ALS, Cerebral Palsy, Motor Neuron disease and other debilitating illnesses.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
For Parisians who have spent years staring at the real thing above Notre-Dame cathedral, the set was perhaps less dreamy than intended.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
As Push Security describes, the cloned sites look nearly identical to the real thing, with the same logos, layout, and functioning links.
—Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the real thing
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Allison Robicelli, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2026
The ability to provide something that is close to the real thing will be groundbreaking for families touched by ALS, Cerebral Palsy, Motor Neuron disease and other debilitating illnesses.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
For Parisians who have spent years staring at the real thing above Notre-Dame cathedral, the set was perhaps less dreamy than intended.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
As Push Security describes, the cloned sites look nearly identical to the real thing, with the same logos, layout, and functioning links.
—Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 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 19 Mar. 2026.
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