Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Coinciding with reality; not imaginary or false: Refers to something that exists in fact or actuality, as opposed to being an illusion, dream, or fiction.
   • Genuine and authentic: Describes something that is true to its nature, not artificial, fake, or pretended.
   • Serious and significant: Used to emphasize that something is important, substantial, and not to be ignored or taken lightly.
   • Relating to actual value: Used in economics to describe amounts adjusted for inflation, reflecting true purchasing power.

2. Adverb (Informal):

   • Very; really: Used as an intensifier, especially in informal speech, to mean "to a great degree."

3. Noun:

   • A former Spanish silver coin: An old unit of currency.
   • The basic monetary unit of Brazil: The standard currency of Brazil (plural: reais).
   • Any rational or irrational number: In mathematics, a real number.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The documentary showed the real struggles of everyday people. (It showed actual, factual struggles.)
  • She is a real friend who always supports me. (She is a genuine and true friend.)
  • After accounting for inflation, his real income has decreased. (His income measured by actual purchasing power.)
  • The threat of climate change is a real problem. (It is a serious and substantial problem.)

• Adverb (Informal):

  • I'm real happy to see you. (I am very happy to see you.)
  • That was a real good movie. (That was a really good movie.)

• Noun:

  • The museum displayed an old Spanish real. (A historical coin.)
  • The price is fifty Brazilian reais. (The currency of Brazil.)
  • Pi is a real number. (A number in the set of real numbers.)

Advanced Usage

• "For real": Used to ask for or state that something is genuine, serious, or true.

  • Are you moving to Paris for real? (Are you seriously/actually moving?)
  • The competition starts now, for real. (It starts seriously/actually now.)

• "Get real": An imperative phrase meaning "be realistic" or "face the facts."

  • You think you can finish that in an hour? Get real. (Be realistic; that's not possible.)

• "The real thing": The authentic, original, or best example of something.

  • This isn't a copy; it's the real thing. (It is the genuine article.)

Variants and Related Words

• Really (adv): In actual fact, truly, or very. (Formal counterpart to the informal adverbial "real").
  • I really appreciate your help.
• Reality (n): The state of things as they actually exist.
  • She struggled to accept reality.
• Realize (v): To become fully aware of something as a fact; to make something real.
  • He didn't realize the consequences.
• Realism (n): The attitude or practice of accepting a situation as it is.
  • His realism about the challenges was helpful.

Synonyms

• Actual: Existing in fact; real.
• Genuine: Truly what something is said to be; authentic.
• True: In accordance with fact or reality.
• Authentic: Of undisputed origin; genuine.

Antonyms

• Fake: Not genuine; counterfeit.
• Imaginary: Existing only in the imagination.
• False: Not according to truth or fact.
• Unreal: Not related to reality; imaginary or illusory.

Related Idioms

• "Keep it real": To be authentic and true to oneself; to stay grounded.
  • No matter how famous he gets, he always tries to keep it real.
• "In real time": Happening immediately, without any delay.
  • The data is updated in real time.
• "Real estate": Property consisting of land and the buildings on it.
  • He works in real estate. (Note: This is a common compound noun listed here as a related term.)

Adjective

1. coinciding with reality
   • perceptual error...has a surprising resemblance to veridical perception- F.A.Olafson
2. (of property) fixed or immovable
   • real property consists of land and buildings
3. having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary
   • the substantial world
   • a mere dream, neither substantial nor practical
   • most ponderous and substantial things- Shakespeare
4. of, relating to, or representing an amount that is corrected for inflation
   • real prices
   • real income
   • real wages
5. being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
   • her actual motive
   • a literal solitude like a desert- G.K.Chesterton
   • a genuine dilemma
6. capable of being treated as fact
   • tangible evidence
   • his brief time as Prime Minister brought few real benefits to the poor
7. not to be taken lightly
   • statistics demonstrate that poverty and unemployment are very real problems
   • to the man sleeping regularly in doorways homelessness is real
8. no less than what is stated; worthy of the name
   • the real reason
   • real war
   • a real friend
   • a real woman
   • meat and potatoes--I call that a real meal
   • it's time he had a real job
   • it's no penny-ante job--he's making real money
9. being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory; not ghosts"
   • real objects
   • real people
   • a film based on real life
   • a real illness
   • real humility
   • Life is real! Life is earnest!- Longfellow

Adverb

1. used as intensifiers; `real' is sometimes used informally for `really'; `rattling' is informal
   • she was very gifted
   • he played very well
   • a really enjoyable evening
   • I'm real sorry about it
   • a rattling good yarn

Noun

1. an old small silver Spanish coin
2. the basic unit of money in Brazil; equal to 100 centavos
3. any rational or irrational number