truer; truest
1
a(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
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
2
a
: 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
4
: legitimate, rightful
our true and lawful king
5
a
: 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
9
: corrected for error
trueness
noun
1
: in accordance with fact or reality
2
a
: without deviation
the bullet flew straight and true
b
: without variation from type
breed true
trued; trueing also truing
: 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
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Sara Coughlin, SELF, 24 Nov. 2023
The difference is conventional devices were designed to arrive at a single answer using a series of deterministic commands that all personal computers employ where values can only either be true or false, 0 or 1.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2023
Northern England is seen as a vague and nebulous concept
Generally true.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2023
These foods really are a true gift to the world from Native people.
—Megan Zhang, Saveur, 22 Nov. 2023
Modern menorah tray First off, this isn’t a true menorah and is not meant to stand in for one.
—Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
But the converse is also true: helping the environment once, in aggregate, has a big impact.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
The leaks were true: Eminem is coming to Fortnite as part of the game’s Chapter 4 finale.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 22 Nov. 2023
For the brothers, the tour has been a true family affair.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023
Paul S. Coakley, WSJ, 11 July 2022
That same principal holds true more broadly: The US has real material needs that could be met with better infrastructure for transportation, energy, and housing.
—Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 23 June 2022
This was the second unique compliment of the day, which rang true not only to Kim’s mythology of endless growth and expansion, but also to her whole family’s larger, cross-genre, and inter-disciplinary brand.
—Vogue, 22 Apr. 2022
Even Klotz noted his predictions came true faster than anyone expected, let alone him.
—Meghan M. Biro, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2021
But Valenzuela stuck true to her mission to blend the two cultures.
—Tirion Morris, The Arizona Republic, 18 July 2021
These arguments will not convince a true-believing textualist who is uninterested in a law's intent.
—Noah Feldman Bloomberg Opinion, Star Tribune, 6 Apr. 2021
Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg, Switzerland is making dreams come true worldwide with its new grandiose chocolate museum and breathtaking fountain.
—Sonia Ramirez, Houston Chronicle, 14 Sep. 2020
The words of former First Lady Michelle Obama rang true to many across America and around the world.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 7 Aug. 2020
Men's Health, 17 Feb. 2023
Though it's targeted toward men's facial hair, this dye kit is safe to use on your brows and comes in a wide variety of true-to-you shades.
—Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 8 Nov. 2022
Instead, there seemed to be an abundance of hubris and cult-like true-believing in the idea of a nuclear future in which the risk of a catastrophic accident was accepted, as a matter of doctrine, to be very low.
—Daniel Ford, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2022
The interactive dinosaur event features dozens of true-to-life size dinosaurs recreated with scales or skin with help from palentologists.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2022
Scientists struggled to make sense of the creatures, and the sculptures were the first attempt to visualize them in true-to-life size.
—CNN, 25 Nov. 2021
Today in Milan, Dua Lipa not only opened and closed the Versace show in true-to-form bombshell fashion, but debuted a surprise hair transformation.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2021
This has dynamic crystal color with a fine crystal layer that reveals millions of true-to-life colors.
—Chris Hachey, BGR, 17 Aug. 2021
Dozens of true-to-size robo-dinos will roam the course, tilting their heads, opening their mouths and even appearing to breathe.
—Phillip Valys, sun-sentinel.com, 27 Nov. 2020
Alia Wong, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2017
True the Vote itself has struggled to keep up momentum from the Obama era.
—Mark Berman, Washington Post, 30 June 2017
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Adjective
Or, go for the Loom & Leaf, which is made of five comfy foam layers, and available in both medium-firm and true firm densities.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 24 Nov. 2023
The difference is conventional devices were designed to arrive at a single answer using a series of deterministic commands that all personal computers employ where values can only either be true or false, 0 or 1.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2023
Northern England is seen as a vague and nebulous concept
Generally true.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2023
These foods really are a true gift to the world from Native people.
—Megan Zhang, Saveur, 22 Nov. 2023
Modern menorah tray First off, this isn’t a true menorah and is not meant to stand in for one.
—Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
But the converse is also true: helping the environment once, in aggregate, has a big impact.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
The leaks were true: Eminem is coming to Fortnite as part of the game’s Chapter 4 finale.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 22 Nov. 2023
For the brothers, the tour has been a true family affair.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023
Adverb
O’Connor’s words rang true then and are perhaps even more important now.
—Paul S. Coakley, WSJ, 11 July 2022
That same principal holds true more broadly: The US has real material needs that could be met with better infrastructure for transportation, energy, and housing.
—Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 23 June 2022
This was the second unique compliment of the day, which rang true not only to Kim’s mythology of endless growth and expansion, but also to her whole family’s larger, cross-genre, and inter-disciplinary brand.
—Vogue, 22 Apr. 2022
Even Klotz noted his predictions came true faster than anyone expected, let alone him.
—Meghan M. Biro, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2021
But Valenzuela stuck true to her mission to blend the two cultures.
—Tirion Morris, The Arizona Republic, 18 July 2021
These arguments will not convince a true-believing textualist who is uninterested in a law's intent.
—Noah Feldman Bloomberg Opinion, Star Tribune, 6 Apr. 2021
Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg, Switzerland is making dreams come true worldwide with its new grandiose chocolate museum and breathtaking fountain.
—Sonia Ramirez, Houston Chronicle, 14 Sep. 2020
The words of former First Lady Michelle Obama rang true to many across America and around the world.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 7 Aug. 2020
Noun
Nisolo’s take stay trues to the classic slip-on design but makes the style versatile enough to be dressed up and down, for your run to the bodega or date night at your favorite restaurant's outdoor patio.
—Men's Health, 17 Feb. 2023
Though it's targeted toward men's facial hair, this dye kit is safe to use on your brows and comes in a wide variety of true-to-you shades.
—Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 8 Nov. 2022
Instead, there seemed to be an abundance of hubris and cult-like true-believing in the idea of a nuclear future in which the risk of a catastrophic accident was accepted, as a matter of doctrine, to be very low.
—Daniel Ford, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2022
The interactive dinosaur event features dozens of true-to-life size dinosaurs recreated with scales or skin with help from palentologists.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2022
Scientists struggled to make sense of the creatures, and the sculptures were the first attempt to visualize them in true-to-life size.
—CNN, 25 Nov. 2021
Today in Milan, Dua Lipa not only opened and closed the Versace show in true-to-form bombshell fashion, but debuted a surprise hair transformation.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2021
This has dynamic crystal color with a fine crystal layer that reveals millions of true-to-life colors.
—Chris Hachey, BGR, 17 Aug. 2021
Dozens of true-to-size robo-dinos will roam the course, tilting their heads, opening their mouths and even appearing to breathe.
—Phillip Valys, sun-sentinel.com, 27 Nov. 2020
Verb
That’s true more broadly, as well, in part because of how the issue has been litigated.
—Alia Wong, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2017
True the Vote itself has struggled to keep up momentum from the Obama era.
—Mark Berman, Washington Post, 30 June 2017
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'true.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English trewe, from Old English trēowe faithful; akin to Old High German gitriuwi faithful, Old Irish derb sure, and probably to Sanskrit dāruṇa hard, dāru wood — more at tree entry 1
First Known Use
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of true was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing true
Dictionary Entries Near true
Cite this Entry
“True.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
true
1 of 4 adjective
truer; truest
1
: completely loyal : faithful
2
a
: agreeing with the facts : accurate
a true description
b
: consistent sense 2
true to character
3
: fully realized or fulfilled
dreams come true
4
: properly so called : genuine
lichens have no true stems
true love
5
: placed or formed accurately : exact
true pitch
6
: being or holding by right : legitimate
the true owner
true
2 of 4 noun
: the quality or state of being accurate (as in adjustment)
—used in the phrases in true and out of true
true
3 of 4 verb
trued; trueing also truing
: to bring to exactly correct condition as to place, position, or shape
true up a board
true
4 of 4 adverb1
: in agreement with fact : truthfully
2
: in an accurate manner : accurately
the arrow flew straight and true
3
: without variation from type
breed true
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