true

adjective

\ ˈtrü

\

truer; truest

Definition of true

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a(1) : being in accordance with the actual state of affairs true description

(2) : conformable to an essential reality

(3) : fully realized or fulfilled dreams come true

b : ideal, essential

c : being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed the true dimension of the problem

d : consistent true to character

2a : properly so called true love the true faith the true stomach of ruminant mammals

b(1) : possessing the basic characters of and belonging to the same natural group as a whale is a true but not a typical mammal

(2) : typical the true cats

3a : steadfast, loyal

b : honest, just

c archaic : truthful

4 : legitimate, rightful our true and lawful king

5a : that is fitted or formed or that functions accurately

b : conformable to a standard or pattern : accurate

6 : determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles true north

7 : logically necessary

8 : narrow, strict in the truest sense

9 : corrected for error

true

adverb

Definition of true (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : in accordance with fact or reality

2a : without deviation the bullet flew straight and true

b : without variation from type breed true

true

noun

Definition of true (Entry 3 of 4)

1 : truth, reality —usually used with the

2 : the quality or state of being accurate (as in alignment or adjustment) —used in the phrases in true and out of true

true

verb

trued; trueing also truing

Definition of true (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

: to make level, square, balanced, or concentric : bring or restore to a desired mechanical accuracy or form true up a board true up an engine cylinder

Other Words from true Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about true

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Examples of true in a Sentence

Adjective

Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false. If their predictions are true, we'll be in for a long winter. Is it true that you were planning to go without me? Jobs are scarce, and that is especially true for managers. The true cost proved to be much higher than they said it would be. His true character was revealed. the true meaning of the term

Adverb

The bullet traveled straight and true.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

And that's true of celebrities, too: Some spent their New Year's Eve thinking some deep thoughts; others headed out for a night of parties. — Abby Gardner, Glamour, "How All Your Favorite Celebrities Celebrated New Year's Eve 2018," 31 Dec. 2018 This is particularly true of NATO, which Mattis mentions specifically in his letter. — Jen Kirby, Vox, "Mattis’s resignation was a scathing indictment of Trump’s foreign policy," 21 Dec. 2018 That’s especially true now that the only major project to clean up the oceans has failed. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "An Ambitious Project to Clean Up the Ocean's Garbage Patch Isn't Working," 10 Dec. 2018 And the same is true of fashion, politics—everything. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, "Iconic Protest Singer Buffy Sainte Marie Has Been Blacklisted By Nixon, Sampled By Kanye, And Breastfed Her Baby On Sesame Street—For Starters," 9 Nov. 2018 The fact is there is nothing else’s that will work, and that has been true for thousands of years. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "“Shutdown today”: Trump is going all in for the border wall," 21 Dec. 2018 If that holds true, 2019 could see West Coast home prices drop, which other than a few exceptions like 2008 rarely happens. — Jeff Andrews, Curbed, "Housing market signaled potential future downturn in 2018," 21 Dec. 2018 The same is true for Opportunity Zones, quasi-philanthropic projects that offer tax breaks for investing in undeveloped parts of the U.S. and remain a new fascination in the world of the megarich. — Theodore Schleifer, Recode, "The 2019 IPO class headlined by Uber will create a ton of new wealth. Will the billions go to mansions or missions?," 20 Dec. 2018 The hope is that a week is long enough to accurately sample the behavior your heart shows for the rest of the year—something that's typically not true in my case. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "A look at the Apple Watch’s ECG, from someone who needs it," 12 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

This has been obviously a dream come true many times over. — Clarence E. Hill Jr., star-telegram, "The best sports dynamic duo ever? Try Brady and Belichick," 2 Feb. 2018 This has been obviously a dream come true many times over. — Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, "Tom Brady 'earned right' to retire when he wants, says Patriots president," 31 Jan. 2018 This has been obviously a dream come true many times over. — Clarence E. Hill Jr., star-telegram, "The best sports dynamic duo ever? Try Brady and Belichick," 2 Feb. 2018 This has been obviously a dream come true many times over. — Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, "Tom Brady 'earned right' to retire when he wants, says Patriots president," 31 Jan. 2018 This has been obviously a dream come true many times over. — Clarence E. Hill Jr., star-telegram, "The best sports dynamic duo ever? Try Brady and Belichick," 2 Feb. 2018 This has been obviously a dream come true many times over. — Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, "Tom Brady 'earned right' to retire when he wants, says Patriots president," 31 Jan. 2018 This has been obviously a dream come true many times over. — Clarence E. Hill Jr., star-telegram, "The best sports dynamic duo ever? Try Brady and Belichick," 2 Feb. 2018 This has been obviously a dream come true many times over. — Clarence E. Hill Jr., star-telegram, "The best sports dynamic duo ever? Try Brady and Belichick," 2 Feb. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Because now more than ever is the time to relax, have fun, and change up your tried and trues. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "Your Beauty Summer Hit List Is Here," 12 June 2017 Alas, Crosby’s rock ‘n’ roll dream-come-true was soon marred by drug addiction, which in turn led to him contracting AIDS. — George Varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Robbin Crosby of San Diego-bred band Ratt died 15 years ago at 42," 7 June 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

That’s true more broadly, as well, in part because of how the issue has been litigated. — Alia Wong, The Atlantic, "The Thorny Relationship Between Asians and Affirmative Action," 3 Aug. 2017 True the Vote itself has struggled to keep up momentum from the Obama era. — Mark Berman And David Weigel, chicagotribune.com, "Trump's voter fraud panel gets pushback after asking states for election data," 30 June 2017 True the Vote itself has struggled to keep up momentum from the Obama era. — Mark Berman, Washington Post, "Trump’s voting commission asked states to hand over election data. Some are pushing back.," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'true.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of true

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined above

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Learn More about true

Dictionary Entries near true

truditur dies die

Statistics for true

Last Updated

9 Jan 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for true

The first known use of true was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for true

true

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of true

(Entry 1 of 2)

: in a straight line

true

noun

English Language Learners Definition of true (Entry 2 of 2)

: the quality or state of being straight, flat, even, etc.

See the full definition for true in the English Language Learners Dictionary

true

adjective

\ ˈtrü

\

truer; truest

Kids Definition of true

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : agreeing with the facts : accurate a true story

2 : completely loyal : faithful You are a true friend.

3 : consistent or in accordance with The movie is true to the book.

4 : properly so called : genuine Mosses have no true seeds.

5 : placed or formed accurately : exact true pitch

6 : being or holding by right : legitimate the true owner

7 : fully realized or fulfilled It's a dream come true.

true

adverb

Kids Definition of true (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : in agreement with fact : truthfully She speaks true.

2 : in an accurate manner : accurately The arrow flew straight and true.

true

noun

Kids Definition of true (Entry 3 of 4)

: the quality or state of being accurate (as in alignment) The door is out of true.

true

verb

trued; trueing also truing

Kids Definition of true (Entry 4 of 4)

: to bring to exactly correct condition as to place, position, or shape

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