really

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈrɪəli/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈriəli, ˈrili/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(rēə lē, rēlē)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
re•al•ly /ˈriəli, ˈrili/USA pronunciation   adv. 
  1. actually:sees things as they really are.
  2. genuinely;
    truly:a really hot day.
  3. indeed:Really, this is too much.

interj. 
  1. (used to express surprise, scolding, disapproval, etc.):Really, be serious!
See -real-.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
really / ˈrɪəlɪ/
  1. in reality; in actuality; assuredly: it's really quite harmless
  2. truly; genuinely: really beautiful
  1. an exclamation of dismay, disapproval, doubt, surprise, etc
  2. not really? an exclamation of surprise or polite doubt
USAGE
In strict usage adverbs of degree such as really, too, quite, very, and extremely are used only to qualify adjectives: he is really happy; she is very sad. By this rule, these words should not be used to qualify past participles that follow the verb to be, since they would then be technically qualifying verbs. With the exception of certain participles, such as tired or disappointed, that have come to be regarded as adjectives, all other past participles are qualified by adverbs such as much, greatly, seriously, or excessively: he has been much (not really) inconvenienced; she has been excessively (not too) criticized
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
re-al•ly  (rē′ə lī),USA pronunciation v.t., v.i., -lied, -ly•ing. 
  1. to ally again or anew.
  • Middle French real(l)ier; see rally1
  • late Middle English realy 1425–75

re•al•ly  (rēə lē, rēlē),USA pronunciation adv. 
  1. in reality;
    actually:to see things as they really are.
  2. genuinely or truly:a really honest man.
  3. indeed:Really, this is too much.

interj. 
  1. (used to express surprise, exasperation, etc.)
  • 1400–50; late Middle English; see real1, -ly

'really' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: what I really want to [do, try, eat] is, really [like, hate] [ice cream, school], I really shouldn't, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "really" in the title:


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