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

The property really comes alive at dusk, so stick around for it. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2026

This practice exiles him completely from the realm of literary fiction; some might even question whether Patterson is really a writer. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026

This season, for Kitty, for Yuri, for all of our characters, is really about all of them being on the precipice of adulthood, and transitioning in this final year of being seniors in high school into being adults. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026

Common settings seem to be buried a few menu layers deeper than on other TVs, and some are really hard to find. —Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing really

• not really

Rhymes for really

• bacilli
• tranquilly
• billie
• billy
• chilli
• chilly
• dilly
• filly
• frilly
• gillie
• gilly
• hilly

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