really

/ˈriəli/

Reviewed on

Type

Adverb

Meaning

  1. To a high degree or extent.

    • The traffic was really bad this morning, making everyone late.

  2. In truth or in fact, rather than as an appearance or claim.

    • She wondered what really happened behind closed doors during the meeting.

  3. Used to express interest, surprise, doubt, or mild skepticism.

    • Oh, really? I had no idea that they decided to move.

Collocations

  • really good
  • really hard
  • really important
  • what really happened
  • really care
  • really matter

Synonyms

  • very
  • truly
  • actually
  • genuinely

Antonyms

  • barely

Idioms

  • not really

    used to give a mild or polite negative answer

    "Are you hungry?" "Not really."